Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Oct 1.
Published in final edited form as: Sociol Compass. 2018 Sep 4;12(10):e12626. doi: 10.1111/soc4.12626

Table 1.

Examples of Recent Heritability estimates from Genome-wide Complex Trait Analysis

Outcome SNP Heritability (SE) Sample Size Reference
Socioeconomic Traits/Behaviors
Education (years) 0.17 (0.07) 6,414 Conley et al., 2014
Education (years) 0.21 (0.05) 6,578 Marioni et al., 2014
Education (years) 0.33 (0.10) 4,233 Boardman et al., 2015
Education (years) 0.15 (0.02) 20,450 Okbay et al., 2016
Educational achievement 0.31 (0.12) 3,152 Krapohl and Plomin, 2016
Reading Achievement Test 0.43 (0.10) 3,680 Robinson et al., 2015
Multiple Deprivation Index 0.18 (0.05) 6,533 Marioni et al., 2014
Family Socioeconomic Status 0.20 (0.11) 3,152 Krapohl and Plomin, 2016
Socioeconomic Status (Age 2) 0.18 (0.12) 3,000 Trzaskowski et al., 2014
Socioeconomic Status (Age 7) 0.19 (0.12) 3,000 Trzaskowski et al., 2014
Health Behaviors/Traits
Moderate to Vigorous Activity 0.17 (0.09) 4,244 Richmond et al., 2014
Sedentary Time 0.25 (0.09) 4,244 Richmond et al., 2014
Total Physical Activity 0.21 (0.10) 4,244 Richmond et al., 2014
Drug Use 0.22 (0.16) 3,452 Vrieze et al., 2013
Drug Dependence 0.36 (0.13) 2,596 Palmer et al., 2015
Dependence Vulnerability 0.33 (0.13) 2,596 Palmer et al., 2015
Problematic Drug Use 0.25 (0.13) 2,596 Palmer et al., 2015
Alcohol Consumption 0.16 (0.16) 3,452 Vrieze et al., 2013
Alcohol Dependence 0.12 (0.16) 3,452 Vrieze et al., 2013
Nicotine Use/Dependence 0.18 (0.16) 3,452 Vrieze et al., 2013
Psychological Traits/Behaviors
Subjective Well-Being 0.05–0.10 (0.05–0.10) 11,500 Rietveld et al., 2013
Reporting Stressful Life Events 0.30 (0.15) 2,578 Power et al., 2013
Bipolar Disorder 0.37 (0.04) 2,599 Lee et al., 2011
Bipolar Disorder 0.59 (0.06) 2,000 Speed et al., 2012
ADHD 0.42 (0.13) 1,040 Yang et al., 2013
ADHD Combined Scale (Parent report) 0.22–0.40 (0.14) 5,928 Pappa et al., 2015
ADHD Inattentive Scale (Parent report) 0.24–0.37 (0.14) 5,928 Pappa et al., 2015
Hyperactive-Impulsive (Parent report) 0.33–0.45 (0.14–0.15) 5,928 Pappa et al., 2015
Externalizing Scale (Teacher report) 0.44–0.46 (0.22–0.23) 5,928 Pappa et al., 2015
Attention Problems (Teacher report) 0.49–0.71 (0.22) 5,928 Pappa et al., 2015
Adult Antisocial Behavior 0.55 (0.41) 2,172 Tielbeek et al., 2012
Depression 0.19 (0.10) 4,233 Boardman et al., 2015
Major Depressive Disorder 0.32 (0.09) 4,605 Lubke et al., 2012
Behavioral Disinhibition 0.19 (0.16) 3,452 Vrieze et al., 2013
Neuroticism 0.06 (0.03) 12,000 Vinkhuyzen et al., 2012
Neuroticism 0.15 (0.08) 4,855 Power and Pluess, 2015
Borderline Personality Features 0.23 (0.09) 7, 125 Lubke et al., 2014
Callous-Emotional Behavior 0.07 (0.12) 2,930 Viding et al., 2013
Extraversion 0.12 (0.03) 12,000 Vinkhuyzen et al., 2012
Anxiety Related Behaviors 0.01–0.12 (0.12) 2,810 Viding et al., 2013
Openness 0.21 (0.08) 4,855 Power and Pluess, 2015
Schizophrenia 0.39 (0.12) 1,097 Goes et al., 2015
Loneliness 0.27–0.16 (0.12–0.06) 7,556 Gao et al., 2016
Aggressive Behavior (Age 4) 0.10 (0.06) 5,505 Pappa et al., 2016
Aggressive Behavior (Early Adolescence) 0.12 (0.06) 5,299 Pappa et al., 2016
Physiological Traits/Behaviors
Self-Rated Health 0.18 (0.10) 4,233 Boardman et al., 2015
Self-Rated Health 0.13 (0.01) 112,151 Harris et al., 2017
BMI 0.31 (0.07) 6,320 Conley et al., 2014
BMI 0.43 (0.10) 4,233 Boardman et al., 2015
Type 1 Diabetes 0.28 (0.04) 2,599 Lee et al., 2011
Type 1 Diabetes 0.73 (0.06) 2,000 Speed et al., 2012
Type 2 Diabetes 0.35 (0.06) 2,000 Speed et al., 2012
Coronary Artery Disease 0.39 (0.06) 2,000 Speed et al., 2012
Cholesterol High Density Lipoprotien 0.45 (0.02) 19,977 Zaitlen et al., 2013
Cholesterol Low Density Lipoprotien 0.20 (0.06) 4,547 Zaitlen et al., 2013
Hypertension 0.42 (0.06) 2,000 Speed et al., 2012
Age at Menarche 0.44 (0.02) 15,150 Zaitlen et al., 2013
Age at Menopause 0.40 (0.05) 5,540 Zaitlen et al., 2013
Total children 0.10 (0.02) 15,000 Zaitlen et al., 2013
Rheumatoid Arthritis 0.57 (0.06) 2,000 Speed et al., 2012
Crohn’s Disease 0.61 (0.08) 2,599 Lee et al., 2011
Crohn’s Disease 0.54 (0.06) 2,000 Speed et al., 2012
Pediatric Obesity 0.37 (0.15) 3,152 Llewellyn et al., 2013
Parkinson’s Disease 0.27 (0.05) 7,096 Keller et al., 2012
Parkinson’s Disease 0.22 (0.02) 3,426 Do et al., 2011
Cognitive Traits/Behaviors
General Cognitive Ability 0.35 (0.12) 3,154 Plomin et al., 2013
General Cognitive Ability 0.29 (0.05) 6,609 Marioni et al., 2014
Nonverbal Cognitive Ability 0.20 (0.11) 3,154 Plomin et al., 2013
Nonverbal Reasoning 0.41 (0.10) 3,657 Robinson et al., 2015
Verbal Cognitive Ability 0.26 (0.11) 3,154 Plomin et al., 2013
Verbal Memory 0.24 (0.10) 3,638 Robinson et al., 2015
Language Ability 0.29 (0.12) 3,154 Plomin et al., 2013
Language Reasoning 0.30 (0.10) 3,651 Robinson et al., 2015
Spatial Reasoning 0.36 (0.10) 3,581 Robinson et al., 2015
Intelligence (Age 7–12) 0.60 (0.26) 2,875 Trzaskowski et al., 2014a
Intelligence 0.51 (0.02) 3,511 Davies et al., 2011
Intelligence from Childhood to Old Age 0.24 (0.20) 1,940 Deary et al., 2012
IQ (Age 12) 0.32 (0.14) 3,000 Trzaskowski et al., 2014b
IQ (Age 7) 0.28 (0.17) 3,000 Trzaskowski et al., 2014b

Source: Updated and modified from Domingue et al. (2016)