Mills, MC and Barban, N and Tropf, FC (2018) 'The Sociogenomics of Polygenic Scores of Reproductive Behavior and Their Relationship to Other Fertility Traits.' The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, 4 (4). 122 - 136. ISSN 2377-8253

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Abstract

Human reproductive behavior until relatively recently has been explained exclusively via individual and social characteristics. This article applies results from a recent Genome-Wide Association Study that combined sixty-two data sources to isolate twelve genetic loci associated with reproductive behavior. We create polygenic scores that allow us to include a summary variable of genetic factors into our statistical models. We use four datasets: the U.S. Health and Retirement Study, Dutch LifeLines, TwinsUK and the Swedish Twin register. First, we provide a brief overview of the dominant explanations of reproductive behavior. Second, we test the predictive power of polygenic scores. Third, we interrogate the robustness of our models using a series of sensitivity analyses to take into account possible confounders due to population stratification and selection.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	human reproduction, polygenic scores, genetics, educational attainment, age at first birth, number of children ever born, fertility
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute for Social and Economic Research
Depositing User:	Elements
Date Deposited:	06 Sep 2018 08:59
Last Modified:	06 Sep 2018 09:15
URI:	http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/22118

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