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Gonggrijp BMA, van de Weijer SGA, Bijleveld CCJH, van Dongen J, Boomsma DI. The Co-Twin Control Design: Implementation and Methodological Considerations. Twin Res Hum Genet 2023:1-8. [PMID: 37655521 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2023.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Establishing causal relationships in observational studies is an important step in research and policy decision making. The association between an exposure and an outcome can be confounded by multiple factors, often making it hard to draw causal conclusions. The co-twin control design (CTCD) is a powerful approach that allows for the investigation of causal effects while controlling for genetic and shared environmental confounding factors. This article introduces the CTCD and offers an overview of analysis methods for binary and continuous outcome and exposure variables. Tools for data simulation are provided, along with practical guidance and accompanying scripts for implementing the CTCD in R, SPSS, and Stata. While the CTCD offers valuable insights into causal inference, it depends on several assumptions that are important when interpreting CTCD results. By presenting a broad overview of the CTCD, this article aims to equip researchers with actionable recommendations and a comprehensive understanding of the design's strengths and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bodine M A Gonggrijp
- Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Steve G A van de Weijer
- Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Catrien C J H Bijleveld
- Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jenny van Dongen
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dorret I Boomsma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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van der Laan CM, Morosoli-García JJ, van de Weijer SGA, Colodro-Conde L, Lupton MK, Mitchell BL, McAloney K, Parker R, Burns JM, Hickie IB, Pool R, Hottenga JJ, Martin NG, Medland SE, Nivard MG, Boomsma DI. Continuity of Genetic Risk for Aggressive Behavior Across the Life-Course. Behav Genet 2021; 51:592-606. [PMID: 34390460 PMCID: PMC8390412 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-021-10076-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
We test whether genetic influences that explain individual differences in aggression in early life also explain individual differences across the life-course. In two cohorts from The Netherlands (N = 13,471) and Australia (N = 5628), polygenic scores (PGSs) were computed based on a genome-wide meta-analysis of childhood/adolescence aggression. In a novel analytic approach, we ran a mixed effects model for each age (Netherlands: 12-70 years, Australia: 16-73 years), with observations at the focus age weighted as 1, and decaying weights for ages further away. We call this approach a 'rolling weights' model. In The Netherlands, the estimated effect of the PGS was relatively similar from age 12 to age 41, and decreased from age 41-70. In Australia, there was a peak in the effect of the PGS around age 40 years. These results are a first indication from a molecular genetics perspective that genetic influences on aggressive behavior that are expressed in childhood continue to play a role later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camiel M van der Laan
- Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- The Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Steve G A van de Weijer
- The Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Kerrie McAloney
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard Parker
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jane M Burns
- Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - René Pool
- Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jouke-Jan Hottenga
- Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Sarah E Medland
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Michel G Nivard
- Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dorret I Boomsma
- Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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van de Weijer SGA, Besemer KL, Dennison SM. Family member incarceration and physical health problems: A longitudinal study among Australian households. SSM Popul Health 2021; 14:100810. [PMID: 34007874 PMCID: PMC8111823 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between poor physical health and exposure to family member incarceration. Longitudinal data (2001–2015) from an Australian nationally representative household-based panel study was used (177,312 observations within 26,572 respondents). Hybrid random-effects models showed a strong correlation between poor physical health and family member imprisonment. However, this strong association can be explained for a large part by differences between individuals, since the association of physical health with within-individual changes in family member imprisonment was considerably lower. Nevertheless, the within-individual analyses showed that male sample members were significantly more likely to experience physical health problems in years in which they experienced family member imprisonment, compared to years in which they did not. This association was not found among females. Moreover, no effect of parental imprisonment on the physical health of young sample members was found. Imprisonment of a family member is strongly related to poor physical health. This association can be explained for a large part by time-constant confounders. Males have poorer health in years in which family members are imprisoned. Females do not have poorer health in years in which family members are imprisoned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve G A van de Weijer
- Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), PO Box 71304, 1008BH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kirsten L Besemer
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University.Room 3.09, Social Sciences Building (M10), 176 Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, QLD 4122, Australia.,Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith UniversityLevel 4 Social Sciences Building (M10) 176 Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, QLD 4122, Australia
| | - Susan M Dennison
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University.Room 3.09, Social Sciences Building (M10), 176 Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, QLD 4122, Australia.,Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith UniversityLevel 4 Social Sciences Building (M10) 176 Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, QLD 4122, Australia
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Abstract
The prevalence of cybercrime has increased rapidly over the last decades and has become part of the everyday life of citizens. It is, therefore, of great importance to gain more knowledge on the factors related to an increased or decreased likelihood of becoming a cybercrime victim. The current study adds to the existing body of knowledge using a large representative sample of Dutch individuals (N = 3,648) to study the relationship between cybercrime victimization and the key traits from the Big Five model of personality (i.e., extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience). First, multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between the personality traits and three victim groups, that is, cybercrime victims versus nonvictims, traditional crime victims versus nonvictims, and cybercrime victims versus traditional crime victims. Next, logistic regression analyses were performed to predict victimization of cyber-dependent crimes (i.e., hacking and virus infection) and cyber-enabled crimes (i.e., online intimidation, online consumer fraud, and theft from bank account). The analyses show that personality traits are not specifically associated with cybercrime victimization, but rather with victimization in general. Only those with higher scores on emotional stability were less likely to become a victim of cybercrime than traditional crime. Furthermore, the results indicate that there are little differences between personality traits related to victimization of cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crimes. Only individuals with higher scores on openness to experience have higher odds of becoming a victim of cyber-enabled crimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve G A van de Weijer
- Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E Rutger Leukfeldt
- Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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