DNA May Influence Relationship Stability, Study Suggests

An individual's genetic makeup might play a role in the stability of their romantic relationships, according to a recent study. Scientists have identified certain genetic traits that appear to influence whether a person is more likely to experience a relationship breakdown or maintain a long-term partnership.

The research, which analyzed DNA from thousands of participants in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study, examined 'polygenic scores.' These scores combine the effects of thousands of genetic variants associated with various traits.

Researchers found that higher genetic scores for educational attainment, subjective wellbeing, and having children at an older age were associated with more stable relationships. Conversely, individuals with genetic predispositions linked to smoking and earlier sexual activity showed a modestly increased risk of separation.

One unexpected finding indicated that a higher genetic tendency towards neuroticism was linked to a slightly lower likelihood of relationship breakdown. Scientists suggest this could be due to an increased need for the security a relationship provides for those who experience higher levels of anxiety.

To distinguish genetic influence from environmental factors such as family upbringing, the researchers compared siblings. By observing differing relationship outcomes between siblings who share similar childhood environments but inherit different genetic combinations, the study strengthened the evidence for DNA's role.

Overall, the study estimated that common genetic variants accounted for approximately nine percent of the variation in women's likelihood of relationship breakdown and around three percent in men. Lead researcher Ruth Eva Jørgensen, a sociologist at the University of Oslo, emphasized that these genetic influences are subtle. "Our destiny does not lie in our genes, but if a relationship were a jigsaw puzzle, our genetics would make up some of the pieces that can influence the risk of a breakup," Jørgensen stated.

Jørgensen cautioned against interpreting the findings as deterministic. "Genes contribute to making us different, but they act together with our life history, our environment, our partner and everything else that happens in life," she added. The success of a relationship, she noted, still depends significantly on individual choices, partner selection, and the life circumstances individuals build together.