title: Children's risk and resilience following a natural disaster: genetic vulnerability, posttraumatic stress, and depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined children's risk and resilience following a natural disaster, evaluating the role of stress, social support, and two genetic markers: the short allele of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR), and the met allele of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).Under high levels of hurricane exposure or hurricane-related stressors, we expected children displaying the markers would report greater symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression than children without these markers. Social support was explored as an additional moderating variable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight months after Hurricane Ike, 116 children (M age=8.85 years, SD=.89; 54% girls) residing in Galveston, Texas, provided saliva samples and completed measures of hurricane exposure and stress, and symptoms of PTSD and depression; 80 also completed a social support measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For BDNF, analyses revealed several Gene by Environment interactions; greater stress was related to more symptoms of PTSD and depression, and this effect was stronger for children with the met allele. No findings emerged for 5-HTTLPR. Stressors and social support also were associated with children's PTSD and depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings should be tempered by the relatively small sample, especially for analysis that included social support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The met allele (BDNF) may play a role in children's disaster reactions. Further research should consider the complex interplay between genes, stressors, support, and psychological outcomes over time.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, USA. Electronic address: alagreca@miami.edu.
authors.forename: Annette M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: La Greca
authors.forename: Betty S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joormann
authors.forename: Beth B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Auslander
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Short
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D013781:Texas
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D005819:Genetic Markers; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: Children; Depression; Disasters; Genetics; Posttraumatic stress; Stressors