title: The MAOA gene predicts happiness in women.
abstract: Psychologists, quality of life and well-being researchers have grown increasingly interested in understanding the factors that are associated with human happiness. Although twin studies estimate that genetic factors account for 35-50% of the variance in human happiness, knowledge of specific genes is limited. However, recent advances in molecular genetics can now provide a window into neurobiological markers of human happiness. This investigation examines association between happiness and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) genotype. Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of a population-based cohort, followed for three decades. In women, low expression of MAOA (MAOA-L) was related significantly to greater happiness (0.261 SD increase with one L-allele, 0.522 SD with two L-alleles, P=0.002) after adjusting for the potential effects of age, education, household income, marital status, employment status, mental disorder, physical health, relationship quality, religiosity, abuse history, recent negative life events and self-esteem use in linear regression models. In contrast, no such association was found in men. This new finding may help explain the gender difference on happiness and provide a link between MAOA and human happiness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. hchen1@health.usf.edu
authors.forename: Henian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pine
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gorodetsky
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasen
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012737:Sex Factors; D014930:Women
chemical_list: D008995:Monoamine Oxidase