SCIENTISTS REVEAL HOW UPBRINGING AND GENETICS INTERACT TO SHAPE SUCCESS

By Priyanjana Pramanik, MSc.

How much do your genes and upbringing determine your success? A landmark Norwegian study untangles the complex interplay between genetics, family, and social policies in shaping who thrives.

Study: The genetic and environmental composition of socioeconomic status in Norway. Image Credit: WinWin artlab / Shutterstock

In a recent article published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers examined the environmental and genetic contributions to four key indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) in Norway, namely wealth, income, occupational prestige, and educational attainment. Their findings indicate that genetic variation consistently explained more of the differences in educational attainment and occupational prestige, with education generally showing the highest genetic influence.

Family-shared environmental factors, on the other hand, contributed more to variations in educational attainment and wealth. The study notes that its estimates might be most applicable to a middle-class to upper-middle-class Norwegian population due to sample characteristics. The authors also note that their findings may not be generalizable to more socioeconomically diverse or non-European populations.

Read the full story here.

2025-05-16T02:04:01Z