Abstract

NEDELEC, Joseph L.; SCHWARTZ, Joseph A.; CONNOLLY, Eric J.  and  BEAVER, Kevin M.. Exploring the association between IQ and differential life outcomes: results from a longitudinal sample of monozygotic twins. Temas psicol. [online]. 2012, vol.20, n.1, pp. 31-44. ISSN 1413-389X.

A large body of research has revealed that measures of IQ are highly predictive of a wide swath of life outcomes. However, most studies examining these associations have employed correlational statistical techniques which tend to confound environmental and genetic influences. The current study addresses this gap in the literature by making use of a monozygotic twin difference scores approach to explore the association between IQ and a variety of outcome measures, including general health, substance use, relationships, sexual behaviors, educational attainment, economic well-being, and criminal justice contacts. Analysis of monozygotic twin pairs from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) revealed that between-twin differences in IQ have little effect on the majority of the examined outcome measures. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Keywords : Add Health; IQ; Life outcomes; MZ difference scores; Twins.

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