TY - JOUR
T1 - Common genetic influences on negative emotionality and a general psychopathology factor in childhood and adolescence
AU - Tackett, Jennifer L.
AU - Lahey, Benjamin B.
AU - van Hulle, Carol
AU - Waldman, Irwin
AU - Krueger, Robert F.
AU - Rathouz, Paul J.
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - Previous research using confirmatory factor analysis to model psychopathology comorbidity has supported the hypothesis of a broad general factor (i.e., a "bifactor"; Holzinger & Swineford, 1937) of psychopathology in children, adolescents, and adults, with more specific higher order internalizing and externalizing factors reflecting additional shared variance in symptoms (Lahey et al., 2012; Lahey, van Hulle, Singh, Waldman, & Rathouz, 2011). The psychological nature of this general factor has not been explored, however. The current study tested a prediction, derived from the spectrum hypothesis of personality and psychopathology, that variance in a general psychopathology bifactor overlaps substantially- at both phenotypic and genetic levels-with the dispositional trait of negative emotionality. Data on psychopathology symptoms and dispositional traits were collected from both parents and youth in a representative sample of 1,569 twin pairs (ages 9-17 years) from Tennessee. Predictions based on the spectrum hypothesis were supported, with variance in negative emotionality and the general factor overlapping substantially at both phenotypic and etiologic levels. Furthermore, stronger correlations were found between negative emotionality and the general psychopathology factor than among other dispositions and other psychopathology factors.
AB - Previous research using confirmatory factor analysis to model psychopathology comorbidity has supported the hypothesis of a broad general factor (i.e., a "bifactor"; Holzinger & Swineford, 1937) of psychopathology in children, adolescents, and adults, with more specific higher order internalizing and externalizing factors reflecting additional shared variance in symptoms (Lahey et al., 2012; Lahey, van Hulle, Singh, Waldman, & Rathouz, 2011). The psychological nature of this general factor has not been explored, however. The current study tested a prediction, derived from the spectrum hypothesis of personality and psychopathology, that variance in a general psychopathology bifactor overlaps substantially- at both phenotypic and genetic levels-with the dispositional trait of negative emotionality. Data on psychopathology symptoms and dispositional traits were collected from both parents and youth in a representative sample of 1,569 twin pairs (ages 9-17 years) from Tennessee. Predictions based on the spectrum hypothesis were supported, with variance in negative emotionality and the general factor overlapping substantially at both phenotypic and etiologic levels. Furthermore, stronger correlations were found between negative emotionality and the general psychopathology factor than among other dispositions and other psychopathology factors.
KW - Comorbidity
KW - Externalizing
KW - Internalizing
KW - Negative emotionality
KW - Spectrum model
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84890950827&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84890950827&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/a0034151
DO - 10.1037/a0034151
M3 - Article
C2 - 24364617
AN - SCOPUS:84890950827
SN - 0021-843X
VL - 122
SP - 1142
EP - 1153
JO - Journal of abnormal psychology
JF - Journal of abnormal psychology
IS - 4
ER -