Parental overcontrol x OPRM1 genotype interaction predicts school-aged children's sympathetic nervous system activation in response to performance challenge. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Partington, Lindsey C.; Borelli, Jessica L.; Smiley, Patricia; Jarvik, Ella; Rasmussen, Hannah F.; Seaman, Lauren C.; Nurmi, Erika L.
• Is Part Of: Research in developmental disabilities. Volume 82(2018)
• Page Start: 39
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Opioid receptor -- Overcontrol -- Electrodermal activity -- Reactivity -- School-aged children; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmental Disabilities -- Periodicals; Disabled -- Periodicals; Mental Retardation -- rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Personnes atteintes de troubles du développement -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Enfants atteints de troubles du développement -- Éducation -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Développement, Troubles du -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 616.858800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2018.04.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-4222

Abstract

Highlights: Maternal overcontrol alone does not predict child stress reactivity. Child OPRM1 genotype alone does not predict child stress reactivity. OPRM1 moderates maternal overcontrol and child reactivity in a performance stressor. OPRM1 G-carriers are more sensitive to overcontrol in a performance stressor. OPRM1 x maternal overcontrol suggests a diathesis-stress model for anxiety risk. Abstract: Parental overcontrol (OC), the excessive regulation of a child's behavior, cognition, and emotion, is associated with the development of child anxiety. While studies have shown that genetic factors may increase sensitivity to stress, genetic vulnerability to parental OC has not been examined in anxiety etiology. A functional polymorphism in the mu opioid receptor OPRM1 (A118G, rs1799971) has been shown to impact stress reactivity. Using a community sample of children ( N = 85, 9–12 years old), we examined the main and interactive effects of maternal OC and child OPRM1 genotype in predicting children's sympathetic nervous system reactivity during a performance stressor. Neither OC nor genotype predicted children's electrodermal activity (EDA); however, the interaction between OC and child genotype significantly predicted stress reactivity, as indexed by EDA, during the challenging task. Among children with the minor G-allele, higher maternal OC was associated with higher reactivity. In A homozygotes, maternal OC was not associated with EDA, suggesting a diathesis-stress pattern of gene x environment interaction. We discuss implications for anxiety etiology and intervention.