Defining the environment in gene-environment research: lessons from social epidemiology.
In this article, we make the case that social epidemiology provides a useful framework to define the environment within gene-environment (G × E) research. We describe the environment in a multilevel, multidomain, longitudinal framework that accounts for upstream processes influencing health outcomes. We then illustrate the utility of this approach by describing how intermediate levels of social organization, such as neighborhoods or schools, are key environmental components of G × E research. We discuss different models of G × E research and encourage public health researchers to consider the value of including genetic information from their study participants. We also encourage researchers interested in G × E interplay to consider the merits of the social epidemiology model when defining the environment.
Jason D. Boardman is with the Institute of Behavioral Science and the Department of Sociology, University of Colorado, Boulder. Jonathan Daw is with the Department of Sociology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and with the Institute of Behavioral Science and the Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder. Jeremy Freese is with the Institute for Policy Research and Department of Sociology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
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D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D036281:Genetic Research; D006801:Humans; D012931:Social Environment