Serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR), environmental conditions, and developing negative emotionality and fear in early childhood.
Studies on neural and behavioral correlates of the serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) strongly suggested interaction effects between the 5-HTTLPR genotype and environmental conditions on infant emotionality development. However, empirical studies that involve human infants are rare. The present study thus analyzed the interaction of the 5-HTTLPR genotype with the quality of maternal parenting behavior on the development of negative emotionality and fear in infancy. In a sample of 69 healthy firstborn infants, negative emotionality and fear were assessed at 4, 8, and 12 months using a multi-method approach. The quality of previous parenting has been operationalized as the quality of the mother-infant attachment relationship measured by the strange situation procedure at 18 months. Corresponding to hypotheses, to their caregiver insecurely attached infants who were homozygous for the s-variant of the 5-HTTLPR genotype developed a high level of negative emotionality and fear. The results thus are in line with the experimental results in the non-human primate model and point to a more pronounced susceptibility of s/s carrying infants to early rearing experiences.
Pauli-Pott
Ursula
U
Department of Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Giessen, Friedrichstrasse 36, 35392, Giessen, Germany. ursula.pauli-pott@psycho.med.uni-giessen.de
Friedel
Susann
S
Friedl
Susann
S
Hinney
Anke
A
Hebebrand
Johannes
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002657:Child Development; D004644:Emotions; D004777:Environment; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins