Minnesota Twin Family Study (MTFS)
Minnesota Twin Family Study (MTFS) follows two cohorts of 2,764 monozygotic and same-sex dizygotic twins born between 1972 and 1984 and their parents. The younger cohort was first assessed at age 11, and the older cohort at age 17. The sample was identified from birth records, and a brief interview was conducted with a parent (usually the mother). Then, the twins were invited to participate if they met minimal inclusion criteria. Once enrolled, all twins attended interviews and questionnaires assessing psychopathology, personality, relationships, social adjustment, and other characteristics.
Study design
Cohort, Cohort - twin
Number of participants at first data collection
2,764 (participants)
Age at first data collection
11 years (younger cohort)
17 years (older cohort)
Participant year of birth
1971 - 1985 (younger cohort)
1971 - 1985 (older cohort)
Participant sex
All
Representative sample at baseline?
The Minnesota families with adolescents. (1989)
Sample features
Country
Year of first data collection
1989
Primary Institutions
University of Minnesota
Links
mctfr.psych.umn.edu/our-research/twin-family-study
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7056536/pdf/nihms-1047729.pdf
Profile paper DOI
Funders
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Ongoing?
Yes
Data types collected
- Computer, paper or task testing (e.g. cognitive testing, theory of mind doll task, attention computer tasks)
- Interview – face-to-face
- Physical or biological assessment (e.g. blood, saliva, gait, grip strength, anthropometry)
- Self-report questionnaire – paper or computer assisted
- None
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- Healthcare data
Engagement
Keywords
Consortia and dataset groups
