The heritability of conscientiousness facets and their relationship to IQ and academic achievement

M Luciano, M A Wainwright, M J Wright, N G Martin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

The heritability of conscientiousness has been one of the least explored of the NEO PI domains. Here we focus on the facet scales of the conscientiousness domain, estimating both their heritability and their correlations with measures of IQ and academic achievement (Queensland Core Skills Test; QCST) in a sample of adolescent twins and their non-twin siblings. Our findings confirmed positive associations between IQ and the facets of Competence and Dutifulness (ranging 0.11-0.27), with academic achievement showing correlations of 0.27 and 0.15 with these same facets and 0.15 with Deliberation. All conscientiousness facets were influenced by genes (broad sense heritabilities ranging 0.18-0.49) and unique environment, but common environment was judged unimportant. A multivariate genetic analysis including Competence, Dutifulness, IQ (verbal, performance) and QCST scores showed that common variance was primarily explained by a general additive genetic factor (loadings ranging 0.15-0.84). Future multivariate genetic analysis which incorporates Openness to Experience dimensions may improve the interpretation of these findings. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1189-1199
Number of pages11
JournalPersonality and Individual Differences
Volume40
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2006

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • conscientiousness
  • IQ
  • academic achievement
  • twin study genetics
  • NEO PI-R
  • PERSONALITY-TRAITS
  • GENETIC-ANALYSIS
  • INTELLIGENCE
  • MODEL
  • TWIN
  • PERFORMANCE
  • COVARIANCE
  • EXPERIENCE
  • OPENNESS
  • ABILITY

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