Nature of individual difference in liability to depression in Russian adolescents

Abstract

The Influence of genetic and environmental factors on liability to depression inRussian teenage sample was investigated. 196 twin pairs aged 13 to 17 (M=15,2)from Moscow, Izhevsk and Bishkek took part in the survey. We have found out thatgenetic factors had an effect on individual difference in depressiveness amongRussian teenagers: more than 50% of variance was explained by additive geneticfactors which correspond to international results. The biggest genetic influencewas obtained for such scales as negative emotions, negative self esteem and externalizationwhich are the most replicable factor scales in CDI structure worldwide.

Keywords

• behavioral genetics
• twin study
• depression
• teenagers
• Children depression inventory (CDI).