title: A Hierarchical Factor Model of Executive Functions in Adolescents: Evidence of Gene-Environment Interplay.
abstract: Executive functions (EF) are a complex set of neurodevelopmental, higher-ordered processes that are especially salient during adolescence. Disruptions to these processes are predictive of psychiatric problems in later adolescence and adulthood. The objectives of the current study were to characterize the latent structure of EF using bifactor analysis and to investigate the independent and interactive effects of genes and environments on EF during adolescence. Using a representative young adolescent sample, we tested the interaction of a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and parental supervision for EF through hierarchical linear regression. To account for the possibility of a hierarchical factor structure for EF, a bifactor analysis was conducted on the eight subtests of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Functions System (D-KEFS). The bifactor analysis revealed the presence of a general EF construct and three EF subdomains (i.e., conceptual flexibility, inhibition, and fluency). A significant 5-HTTLPR by parental supervision interaction was found for conceptual flexibility, but not for general EF, fluency or inhibition. Specifically, youth with the L/L genotype had significantly lower conceptual flexibility scores compared to youth with S/S or S/L genotypes given low levels of parental supervision. Our findings indicate that adolescents with the L/L genotype were especially vulnerable to poor parental supervision on EF. This vulnerability may be amenable to preventive interventions.
authors.affiliation: 1Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics,Virginia Commonwealth University,Richmond,Virginia.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 2Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic,University of Pittsburgh,Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Tammy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Human Genetics,University of Pittsburgh,Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Vanyukov
authors.affiliation: 2Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic,University of Pittsburgh,Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scott Wood
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Human Genetics,University of Pittsburgh,Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrell
authors.affiliation: 2Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic,University of Pittsburgh,Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Duncan B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: 5-HTTLPR; Adolescence; Bifactor model; Executive functions; Gene-environment interaction; Parental supervision