“Physical and mental health depend on a number of essential factors, one of them being a person’s individual genetic composite, according to KyivWeekly. If, for example, the parents of children suffer from a mental disorder like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder etc, the probability that it is hereditary is 10-15% to 25-30% depending on whether such diseases are observed throughout the genetic line,“ MD Oleh Chaban, Professor, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and First Vice President of the Association of Psychotherapists and Psychoanalysts of Ukraine said in a KW interview.
These figures, however, suggest that there are other factors. After the genetic factor, socio-psychological determinants form the second most influential factor, Chaban said.
He said a massive study last year focusing on how biological factor influences life expectancy showed that science has exaggerated the significance of biological and genetic factors. The socio-psychological state of a person – upbringing, living conditions, environment, the feeling of happiness with life and self-realization – accounts for over 50% of their significance. These factors can fully eliminate the genetic factors. In addition, their significance is currently on the rise.
