Polygenic predictions of occupational status GWAS elucidate genetic and environmental interplay for intergenerational status transmission, careers, and health

Socioeconomic status (SES) impacts health and the life course. This GWAS on sociologically informed occupational status measures (ISEI, SIOPS, and CAMSIS) using the UKBiobank (N=273,157) identified 106 genetic variants of which 8 are novel to the study of SES. Genetic correlation analyses point to a common genetic factor for SES. Within-family prediction and its reduction was attributable in equal parts to genetic nurture and assortative mating. Using polygenic scores from population predictions of 5-8%, we, firstly, showed that cognitive and non-cognitive traits – including scholastic and occupational motivation and aspiration – link genetic scores to occupational status. Second, 62% of the intergenerational transmission of occupational status can be ascribed to non-genetic inheritance (e.g., family environment). Third, the link between genetics, occupation, and health are interrelated with parental occupational status confounding the genetic prediction of general health. Finally, across careers, genetic prediction compresses during mid-career with divergence in status at later stages.