Growing up and growing apart: a developmental meta-analysis of twin studies

Abstract

Developmental change in twin similarity was examined with age contrasts in a meta-analysis of twin studies from 1967 through 1985. Intraclass rs were coded from 103 papers that included data for monozygotic or dizygotic twins, or for both, on personality or intelligence variables. Analyses indicated that there was a general tendency for some intraclass rs to decrease with age. In other words, as twins grow up, they grow apart. There were also developmental differences associated with components of variance for heritability, the shared environment, and the nonshared environment. Mechanisms through which the nonshared environment may operate are discussed.