title: The association between parenting and attachment security is moderated by a polymorphism in the mineralocorticoid receptor gene: evidence for differential susceptibility.
abstract: Maternal sensitive responsiveness and extreme insensitivity only partly explain the variance in attachment security. Differences in attachment security may well be rooted in the interplay of genetic variations and environmental factors. The association between parenting (observed sensitive responsiveness and extreme insensitivity) and attachment security (assessed with the Strange Situation Procedure) was hypothesized to be moderated by genes involved in the regulation of the stress response: the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) genes. A significant G×E interaction was found: infants carrying the minor MR allele (G) were significantly more securely attached if their mothers showed more sensitive responsiveness and significantly less securely attached if their mothers showed more extremely insensitive behaviors. These associations were not significant for carriers of the AA genotype of MR. Findings are discussed from a differential susceptibility perspective.
authors: Center for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, PO Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Maartje P C M
authors: MP
authors: Luijk
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Tharner
authors: Marian J
authors: MJ
authors: Bakermans-Kranenburg
authors: Marinus H
authors: MH
authors: van Ijzendoorn
authors: Vincent W V
authors: VW
authors: Jaddoe
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Hofman
authors: Frank C
authors: FC
authors: Verhulst
authors: Henning
authors: H
authors: Tiemeier
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D016487:Parenting; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid