Significant
Findings from Research Using MATR Data
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Some pregnancy complications, such as
hypertension, nausea and toxemia, are genetically determined.
Among those with epilepsy, genetic factors
determine the cause and duration of seizures.
Genetic factors account for more than
half of the variation in obesity in both adult men and women.
The number of loving and supportive
relationships an individual has is substantially influenced by that
individual's temperament, which in turn is shaped partly by genes.
Identical twin children are more alike
for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct problems and
drug abuse than non-identical twins, suggesting that these behaviors
are influenced genetically.
Children do not "learn" alcoholism from
their parents the way they learn their political or religious beliefs.
The children of individuals with alcohol problems are themselves at
increased risk for such problems because of the genes they inherit.
Genes appear to influence depression
in girls after the onset of puberty.
Genetic factors account for the stability
of blood pressure from early to late adolescence.
The perception by adolescents that religion
is important to them strongly inhibits behavior problems, including
substance abuse and association with antisocial peers.
Responses
to and Comments on Some of our Questionnaires:
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Many twins and parents of twins wrote
comments at the end of recent surveys. These suggestions were very
valuable to us and we plan to use many of them as we embark on new
studies and create new questionnaires.
Most people enjoyed filling out our
surveys, were very interested in our research, and even felt the surveys
helped them to realize how special their families are.
Some of you felt that the different
surveys you have received asked the same types of questions. We understand
how important it is to make our surveys as short as possible. However,
we must sometimes ask questions about a specific problem or experience
in more than one survey or in very similar ways. The purpose of this
is to study health conditions over time (a "longitudinal" study) which
helps us to learn how behaviors or health conditions develop and how
they change throughout our lives.
Some of you felt that a few of the questions
were either negative or too personal. In no way are these questions
intended to make you uncomfortable. It is our interest and goal to
determine the nature of problems found in families, and asking direct
questions about these topics is sometimes necessary. We respect your
privacy, and all of your answers are kept completely confidential
and anonymous, as noted in our Privacy Policy.
