title: Epigenetic marks as the link between environment and development: examination of the associations between attachment, socioeconomic status, and methylation of the SLC6A4 gene.
abstract: Epigenetic processes act as a link between environment and individual development. This pilot study examined the association between socioeconomic status (SES), attachment, and methylation of the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4).
  
  
  
  Attachment classification and SLC6A4 methylation was determined in 100 late adolescents. We hypothesized that (1) SES would interact with methylation to predict higher unresolved loss (UL) or trauma scores on the Adult Attachment Interview; (2) across SES, participants with unresolved attachment would have lower levels of methylation than organized or secure participants; and (3) within the unresolved classification, SES would predict methylation.
  
  
  
  Results showed that lower methylation and low-SES were associated with higher UL, and higher methylation and low-SES were associated with higher unresolved trauma. Across SES, unresolved participants had lower levels of methylation than organized participants. Within the unresolved category, low-SES unresolved participants had higher levels of methylation than mid/upper-SES participants. SES was unrelated to methylation within the secure and organized categories.
  
  
  
  These results suggest that the quality of attachment relationships may impact epigenetic processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Welfare University of California, Berkeley Berkeley California; Center for Health & Community University of California San Francisco California.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jones-Mason
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California.
authors.forename: Isabel Elaine
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Pediatrics University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California; Department of Psychiatry Kaiser-Permanente San Francisco Medical Center San Francisco California.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: Attachment; SLC6A4 and 5‐HTTLPR; methylation; socioeconomic status