| Learning Objective #1: List at least two modifiable and two nonmodifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Describe six categories of behaviors that may assist in health promotion and prevention of cardiovascular disease |
Objective: This study investigated the influence of genetic versus behavioral influences on cardiovascular health in adult monozygotic (MZ) twins.
Design: A descriptive correlational design examined relationships among cardiovascular health indicators and self-reported health promoting behaviors in adult twins.
Population, Sample, Setting: MZ twins do not differ genetically and can be used to detect the effects of genetic or behavioral influences on cardiovascular health. A convenience sample of 77 twin pairs (N = 154) was recruited from participants attending an annual Twins Days Festival in the Midwest.
Concepts or Variables Studied Together: Pender’s Health Promotion Model was used to explain the concept of health promoting behaviors, and six behaviors were examined including health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, and stress management. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, body mass indices, and serum lipids constituted the cardiovascular health indicators.
Methods: Bivariate correlational analysis incorporated the twins serving as their own controls to represent a proportion of the total variance explained, with each twin pair being considered twice in the analysis. This double-entry approach allowed for the creation of a symmetrical scatterplot of twin characteristics and accounted for the genuine effects of outliers.
Findings: Thirteen inter-measure correlations for cardiovascular indicators were significant at the .01 level. Seventy-four percent of the variance in the cardiovascular health of one twin was genetically shared with the cardiovascular health of the other twin.
Conclusions: Genetic factors predominantly contributed to cardiovascular health in adult MZ twins. This finding is in keeping with previous literature that confirms genetic effects on the development of cardiovascular disease.
Implications: While the data in this study may not reflect behavioral effects separate from heredity, the findings do imply that individuals with a family history of cardiovascular problems should adopt health promoting behaviors to prevent the onset and progression of disease.
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