title: The association between well-being and the COMT gene: Dispositional gratitude and forgiveness as mediators.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated the contributions of genetic variants and positive psychological traits (e.g. gratitude and forgiveness) to well-being. However, little is known about how genes interact with positive traits to affect well-being.
  
  
  
  To investigate to what extent the COMT Val158Met polymorphism modulates well-being and to what extent dispositional gratitude and forgiveness mediate the individual differences in well-being, 445 participants were recruited and required to complete a battery of questionnaires.
  
  
  
  We found that individuals with a smaller number of the Met alleles reported greater well-being, less depressive symptoms, and greater tendencies for gratitude and forgiveness. Moreover, dispositional gratitude and forgiveness mediated the genotype effects on well-being and depressive symptoms. These results remained significant after controlling for non-genetic factors (socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, romantic relationship status, parenting style).
  
  
  
  The sample size limits the generalizability of results.
  
  
  
  This study demonstrates the contribution of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism to individual differences in well-being and suggests a potential psychobiological pathway from dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems to happiness.
authors.affiliation: China Centre for Special Economic Zone Research, Shenzhen University, Guangdong 518060, China; Research Centre for Brain Function and Psychological Science, Shenzhen University, Guangdong 518060, China; Center for Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Jinting
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Ministry of Education), Northwest University, Shaanxi 710069, China.
authors.forename: Pingyuan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China. Electronic address: xz104@pku.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D061347:Forgiveness / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: C588010:COMT protein, human; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase
keywords: COMT; Depression; Forgiveness; Gratitude; Well-being