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Social and genetic associations with educational performance in a Scandinavian welfare state

Author

Listed:
  • Martin A. Isungset

    (a Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway;)

  • Dalton Conley

    (b Department of Sociology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544;; c National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA 02138;)

  • Henrik D. Zachrisson

    (g Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway)

  • Eivind Ystrom

    (f Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway;)

  • Alexandra Havdahl

    (e Nic Waal Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, 0853 Oslo, Norway;; f Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway;)

  • Pål R. Njølstad

    (d Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway;)

  • Torkild Hovde Lyngstad

    (a Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway;)

Abstract

Children of highly educated parents perform better in school; this may be due to social environments or genes. Most studies do not distinguish between the two, meaning that genetic associations may confound environmental explanations (and vice versa). Those taking both factors into account have mostly focused on societies with relatively high degrees of inequality and low social mobility. We investigate these dynamics in a social democratic welfare state (Norway). Parental educational advantage is attenuated only to a small degree when accounting for genetics. There were no important interactions between children’s genotypes and their parents’ education or genotype. Genetic and social inheritance appear to wield two largely independent sources of influence on educational achievement, even in a robust, Scandinavian welfare state.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin A. Isungset & Dalton Conley & Henrik D. Zachrisson & Eivind Ystrom & Alexandra Havdahl & Pål R. Njølstad & Torkild Hovde Lyngstad, 2022. "Social and genetic associations with educational performance in a Scandinavian welfare state," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 119(25), pages 2201869119-, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:119:y:2022:p:e2201869119
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