A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

The role of gender in gene by family SES interactions - A twin study across four European countries;




AuthorsLehti, Hannu; Stienstra, Kim; Baier, Tina; Lyngstad, Torkild H.

PublisherElsevier

Publication year2026

Journal: Social Science Research

Article number103375

Volume137

ISSN0049-089X

eISSN1096-0317

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2026.103375

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2026.103375

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/526490058

Self-archived copy's licenceCC BY

Self-archived copy's versionPublisher`s PDF


Abstract

Studies of gene-by-family socioeconomic status (GxSES) interactions in educational outcomes have yielded mixed findings. Building on a socio-contextual perspective, this study emphasizes that genetic influences are shaped not only by family environments but also by broader social forces, including gender and institutional context. Prior sociogenetic research, for example, suggests that early school tracking may suppress genetic influences. Using large twin registers from Finland, Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands, we analyzed gene-by-environment interactions by parental education and child gender, employing non-parametric gene–environment interaction models. Our results showed that genetic influences in Germany were weaker, and shared environmental effects were stronger, than in the other countries. We found no significant gender differences in the magnitude of genetic or environmental effects on educational attainment. Analyses of GxSES revealed that the form and strength of interactions depend on both gender and country context. In most countries, we observed a negative interaction among women, meaning that genetic influences were weaker among individuals from high-SES families. Among men, GxSES varied across contexts, appearing positive, negative, or absent. We conclude that country context and gender shape gene-by-SES interactions in educational attainment and may help explain the mixed results reported in previous GxSES studies.



Keywords:
educational trackingFamily SES

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Funding information in the publication
Hannu Lehti gratefully acknowledges funding from the Research Council of Finland: Academy Research Fellow (decision number: 355009) & INVEST Flagship funding (decision number: 369118). Kim Stienstra acknowledges funding from the Dutch Research Council (grant ID: https://doi.org/10.61686/WBWLJ55381) and the Leverhulme Trust (grant: RC-2018-003) for the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science. Torkild H. Lyngstad acknowledges funding from the European Research Council (grant no. 818420). Tina Baier acknowledges funding from the Einstein Foundation Berlin (grant: EZ-2019-555-2).


Last updated on 11/06/2026 08:46:08 AM