title: Relations between three dopaminergic system genes, school attachment, and adolescent delinquency.
abstract: Both environmental factors and genetic variation, particularly in genes responsible for the dopaminergic system such as DRD4, DRD2, and DAT1 (SLC6A3), affect adolescent delinquency. The school context, despite its developmental importance, has been overlooked in gene-environment research. Using data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD ECCYD), this study examined key interactions between school attachment and (a) each of the DRD4, DRD2, and DAT1 (SLC6A3) genotypes; and (b) a polygenic score. Results indicate that there is a main effect of school attachment, unlike genetic variation, on delinquency. Interestingly, there are important interactive effects of school attachment and dopaminergic genotypes on delinquency. Carriers of the DRD2-A1 allele were differentially affected by both positive and negative school environments, whereas DAT1-10R carriers fared the same as 9R homozygotes in poorer and moderate school environments, but fared disproportionately better in more positive environments. Contrary to expectations, youth without the DRD4-7R allele were particularly affected by the school environment. These findings contribute to the literature considering the roles of both context and genes in delinquency research, and inform our understanding of the individual-level traits that influence sensitivity to particular contexts. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors: Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine.
authors: Adam
authors: 0000-0002-7029-0731
authors: A
authors: Fine
authors: Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine.
authors: Alissa
authors: A
authors: Mahler
authors: Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine.
authors: Cortney
authors: C
authors: Simmons
authors: Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine.
authors: Chuansheng
authors: C
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Moyzis
authors: Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Cauffman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics*; D012574:Schools
chemical_list: C581293:DRD2 protein, human; C493599:DRD4 protein, human; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4