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Genetic and Familial Influences on Self-Perception in Early Childhood and Self-Esteem in Adulthood: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2023

Riley L. Marshall Open the ORCID record for Riley L. Marshall [Opens in a new window] ,
Lisabeth Fisher DiLalla Open the ORCID record for Lisabeth Fisher DiLalla [Opens in a new window] ,
Colin R. Harbke Open the ORCID record for Colin R. Harbke [Opens in a new window]  and
Emily C. Pali
Riley L. Marshall
Affiliation:
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
Lisabeth Fisher DiLalla*
Affiliation:
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
Colin R. Harbke
Affiliation:
Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois, USA
Emily C. Pali
Affiliation:
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
*
Corresponding author: Lisabeth DiLalla; Email: ldilalla@siu.edu
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Abstract

Self-perception in early childhood and self-esteem in adulthood are related to a variety of aspects of psychological wellbeing. The goal of the present study was to examine genetic and familial influences on self-perception and self-esteem in separate samples of children (153 twin pairs of 5-year-olds) and adults (753 twin pairs between the ages of 25–75 years). Genetic common factor modeling showed that three facets of self-perception (physical competence, peer acceptance, and maternal acceptance) loaded onto a single heritable factor in children. Multilevel modeling showed no effects of self or co-twin sex on self-perception, but authoritative parenting style was negatively related to self-perception in boys. Similarly, in Study 2, with the adult sample, five self-esteem items loaded on a single heritable factor with no effects of co-twin sex on adult self-esteem. Remembered maternal affection, paternal affection, and maternal discipline were positively related to self-esteem in adults; maternal affection was especially significant for women. The reversal in direction of parenting effects between early childhood and adulthood suggests that parents may play different roles in shaping how children and adults think of themselves. These results suggest that self-perception in childhood and self-esteem in adulthood are both influenced by genetic and environmental factors and that parenting is an important environmental factor for both children and adults.

Keywords

Self-perceptionSelf-esteemParenting
Type
Article
Information
Twin Research and Human Genetics , Volume 26 , Issue 6 , December 2023 , pp. 339 - 352
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of International Society for Twin Studies

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