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Take your mind off it: Coping style, serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region genotype (5-HTTLPR), and
Jessie I Cline1, Jay Belsky2, Zhi Li2
1University of Pennsylvania.
Children with the short variant of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) show increased risk for behavioral problems when facing stress. Coping strategies, like distraction, partially explain this link for internalizing issues in high-risk youth.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) gene influences emotional regulation.
- Genetic predispositions interact with environmental factors to affect behavioral outcomes.
- Individual coping styles may mediate gene-environment interactions in youth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if coping styles mediate the relationship between 5-HTTLPR genotype and behavioral problems in children.
- To examine gene-environment interactions involving 5-HTTLPR, stressful life events, and coping strategies.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 279 children (ages 8-11) from the Children's Experiences and Development Study.
- Assessed internalizing/externalizing symptoms via caregiver/teacher reports.
- Measured exposure to harsh parenting, parental warmth, traumatic events, and children's coping strategies.
Main Results:
- Short/short 5-HTTLPR homozygotes exhibited higher internalizing problems than long allele carriers.
- Short allele carriers showed increased externalizing problems under high cumulative risk compared to long/long homozygotes.
- Among short/short homozygotes, reduced use of distraction coping partly explained higher internalizing problems under high cumulative risk.
Conclusions:
- Coping strategies, particularly distraction, play a role in the association between 5-HTTLPR genotype and internalizing problems in high-risk youth.
- Gene-environment interactions influence problem behaviors, with coping styles acting as a partial mediator.
- Coping strategies did not significantly mediate gene-environment effects on externalizing symptoms.
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