title: The dopamine D2 receptor gene, perceived parental support, and adolescent loneliness: longitudinal evidence for gene-environment interactions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Loneliness is a common problem in adolescence. Earlier research focused on genes within the serotonin and oxytocin systems, but no studies have examined the role of dopamine-related genes in loneliness. In the present study, we focused on the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Associations among the DRD2, sex, parental support, and loneliness were examined in a longitudinal study spanning five annual waves (N = 307).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using Latent Growth Curve Modeling, DRD2 genotype was not directly related to loneliness. Interactions were found between parental support and DRD2 genotype, showing that adolescents with the A2A2 genotype who perceived little support from their parents had the highest baseline levels of loneliness. Adolescents with an A1 allele were not susceptible to the rewarding effect of parental support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study is the first to examine the role of the DRD2 genotype in loneliness. Our results contribute to a further understanding of the environmental and genetic basis of loneliness in adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands. g.vanroekel@bsi.ru.nl
authors.forename: Eeske
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Roekel
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: Ron H J
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Scholte
authors.forename: Rutger C M E
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Engels
authors.forename: Maaike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verhagen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2