title: Genetic moderation of sensitivity to positive and negative affect in marriage.
abstract: Hypothesizing that genetic factors partially govern sensitivity to interpersonal cues, we examined whether a polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in the serotonin transporter gene would moderate spouses' sensitivity to positive and negative partner affect. Before and after marital discussions, participants from 76 couples (total n = 150) reported their affective states. Spouses carrying the short allele of the 5-HTTLPR were more responsive to their partner's preinteraction positive affect and anxiety/nervousness, compared with spouses with two long alleles. These data support the contention that the serotonin system influences affective responses to social stimuli. In contrast to the view that the 5-HTTLPR primarily affects response to adverse experiences, these results suggest that this polymorphism moderates sensitivity to positive as well as negative affect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Rue de Faucigny 2, Fribourg, Switzerland. dominik.schoebi@unifr.ch
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schoebi
authors.forename: Baldwin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Way
authors.forename: Benjamin R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Karney
authors.forename: Thomas N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Bradbury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000483:Alleles; D001143:Arousal / Q000235:genetics*; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005838:Genotype; D050487:Glycine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050487:Glycine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C493271:SLC6A5 protein, human