title: [The role of genotype in the intergenerational transmission of experiences of childhood adversity].
abstract: The prevalence of childhood abuse and maltreatment is estimated to lie at about 15% in the overall German population. Previous research suggested that about one third of all individuals who had experienced childhood adversity subsequently maltreated their own children or responded insensitively to their children's needs. Empirical studies imply that interindividual differences in the responsiveness to childhood adversity can partially be explained by gene-environment interactions. This article discusses the potential interplay of genes and environment in the context of transmitting maltreating behavior and (in)sensitive parenting against the background of current challenges in genetic research. Selected studies on gene × environment interactions are presented and relevant gene polymorphisms are identified. Overall, previous studies reported interactions between polymorphisms of the serotonergic, dopaminergic, oxytocin-related, and arginine vasopressin-related systems and childhood experiences of care and abuse in the prediction of social behaviors during mother-child interactions. The results indicate a differential susceptibility toward both negative and positive environments which is dependent on genetic characteristics. Future research should thus investigate the effects of children's presumed risk gene variants toward negative as well as positive parenting. This could contribute to a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the intergenerational transmission of abusive and beneficial parenting behavior and help to avoid false stigmatizations.
authors.affiliation: Sektion Störungen der Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg.
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reichl
authors.affiliation: Sektion Störungen der Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaess
authors.affiliation: Sektion Störungen der Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.affiliation: Sektion Störungen der Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg.
authors.forename: Romuald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brunner
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008016:Life Change Events; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents
keywords: Erziehungsverhalten; Genotyp; Kindesmissbrauch; Kreislauf der Misshandlung; abuse; belastende Kindheitserlebnisse; childhood adversity; cycle of violence; genotype; parenting