The long and the short of it: associations between 5-HTT genotypes and coping with stress.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether the strategies people use to cope with stress were associated with differing serotonin transporter (5-HTT) genotypes. The short (s) variant of the 5-HTT promoter polymorphism has been associated with an increased likelihood of depression after significant life stress and greater emotional reactivity to fear-invoking stimuli.


METHODS
Coping strategies were assessed within a longitudinal study in 1993. Ten years later, genomic DNA was obtained for 127 participants and genotypes for the 5-HTT promoter polymorphism were determined. Coping strategies were grouped into coping scales and also using an exploratory factor analysis. Using ordinal regression, associations were then examined between the coping scales and the 5-HTT genotype and gender.


RESULTS
The short variant of the 5-HTT promoter polymorphism was associated with the use of fewer problem-solving strategies. This genotype effect differed significantly between the sexes and was greatest for males.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that coping is influenced by 5-HTT genotype, gender, and their interaction. We raise the possibility that a gene-related disposition to greater emotional reactivity may preclude those with the short variant of the 5-HTT promoter polymorphism from drawing on problem-solving strategies to deal with stress.
Wilhelm
Kay
K
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales and Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia. kwilhelm@stvincents.com.au
Siegel
Jennifer E
JE
Finch
Adam W
AW
Hadzi-Pavlovic
Dusan
D
Mitchell
Philip B
PB
Parker
Gordon
G
Schofield
Peter R
PR
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological
D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins