GENETIC AND SHARED ENVIRONMENTAL-INFLUENCES ON LEISURE-TIME INTERESTSIN MALE-ADOLESCENTS

The present study explored genetic and environmental influences on ind ividual differences in adolescent leisure-time interests. One hundred and ninety identical and 100 fraternal male twin pairs, aged 17 and 18 years, all participants in the ongoing Minnesota Twin Family Study, c ompleted 120 items of the Leisure-Time Interests (LTI) inventory. A pr incipal components analysis with varimax rotation of the 120 items of the LTI yielded nine interpretable factors (Intellectual Activities, S ports, Music and Artistic Activities, Handicrafts, Hunting and Outdoor Activities, Foreign Travel, TV Viewing, Dating and Social Activities, and Religious Activities). Correlation and biometrical analyses indica ted that: (1) both genetic and shared environmental factors contribute d to individual differences in adolescent leisure-time interests, alth ough the relative magnitude of the contribution of the two factors var ied across different leisure-time interests, and (2) approximately hal f of the variance in adolescent leisure-time interests was associated with nonshared environmental influences. The results are discussed in the context of developmental changes in genetic and shared environment al influences on leisure-time interests. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier S cience Ltd.