Caregiving and 5‐HTTLPR Genotype Predict Adolescent Physiological Stress Reactivity: Confirmatory Tests of Gene × Environment Interactions. Issue 4 (3rd March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sumner, Jennifer A.; McLaughlin, Katie A.; Walsh, Kate; Sheridan, Margaret A.; Koenen, Karestan C.
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 86:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 985
• Page End: 994
• Publication Date: 2015-03-03
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12357
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cdev12357-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>A theory‐driven confirmatory approach comparing diathesis–stress and differential susceptibility models of Gene × Environment (G × E) interactions was applied to examine whether <italic>5‐HTTLPR</italic> genotype moderated the effect of early maternal caregiving on autonomic nervous system (ANS) stress reactivity in 113 adolescents aged 13–17 years. Findings supported a differential susceptibility, rather than diathesis–stress, framework. Carriers of one or more <italic>5‐HTTLPR</italic> short alleles (SS/SL carriers) reporting higher quality caregiving exhibited approach ANS responses to a speech task, whereas those reporting lower quality caregiving exhibited withdrawal ANS responses. Carriers of two <italic>5‐HTTLPR</italic> long alleles (LL carriers) were unaffected by caregiving. Findings suggest that <italic>5‐HTTLPR</italic> genotype and early caregiving in interaction are associated with ANS stress reactivity in adolescents in a "for better <italic>and</italic> for worse" fashion, and they demonstrate the promise of confirmatory methods for testing G × E interactions.</p> </abstract>