title: Association of a Common Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism with Self-Reported 'Empathic Concern' in a Large Population of Healthy Volunteers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has linked genomic variations of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene with individual differences in empathy. The impact of these variations on specific cognitive and emotional aspects of empathy, however, remains to be clarified.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed associations of a common OXTR polymorphism (rs53576) with trait empathy in a sample of 421 blood donors (231 M, 190 F; age 18-74) using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) as an established multidimensional self-report measure of empathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female sex was significantly associated with higher empathy scores in all IRI scales (p<0.001) with the exception of the cognitive perspective taking scale (p = 0.09). The overall trait empathy score was significantly associated with rs53576 (p = 0.01), with mean scores increasing from AA to GG genotypes. An analysis of the IRI subscores revealed that the polymorphism was especially associated with the emotional empathic concern scale (p = 0.02). Separate analysis of the male and female subgroup revealed a significant association of the polymorphism with female (p = 0.04), but not with male (p = 0.20) empathic concern. A comparison of effect sizes between the groups showed greater effects for women compared to men although effect size differences did not become significant in our sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest a significant association of the rs53576 OXTR gene polymorphism with trait empathy and especially with emotional aspects of empathy. This association is possibly weaker or absent in men compared to women.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakogenetik, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg Essen, D-45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Franz Korbinian
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Huetter
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakogenetik, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg Essen, D-45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Hagen Sjard
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakogenetik, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg Essen, D-45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reinders
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakogenetik, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg Essen, D-45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siffert
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakogenetik, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg Essen, D-45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stelmach
authors.affiliation: Institut für Transfusionsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg Essen, D-45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knop
authors.affiliation: Institut für Transfusionsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg Essen, D-45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter Alexander
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakogenetik, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg Essen, D-45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Siffert
mesh_terms: D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin