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Early predictors of behavioural problems in pre-schoolers - a longitudinal study of constitutional and environmental
Sara Agnafors1, Gunilla Sydsjö2, Erika Comasco3
1Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 85, Linköping, Sweden. sara.agnafors@liu.se.
Insights
The early psychosocial environment significantly impacts preschooler behavior, outweighing genetic factors like 5-HTTLPR and BDNF. Maternal postpartum depression and life events are key risk factors for child behavior problems.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Genetics
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Early environment critically influences child development and well-being.
- Previous gene-environment studies on 5-HTTLPR and BDNF polymorphisms and life events in relation to mental health have yielded inconclusive results, particularly in children.
- Methodological inconsistencies hinder comparability across existing studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between various risk factors (pregnancy, birth, genetics, life events, psychosocial environment) and child behavior at age 3.
- To examine gene-by-environment interactions using a large, representative, population-based sample of children.
- To clarify the roles of serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphisms in child behavior.
Main Methods:
- Followed 1,106 children and mothers from pregnancy to age 3.
- Collected data on pregnancy/birth factors, maternal depressive symptoms, child behavior, and life events via questionnaires.
- Genotyped 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms from child saliva samples and analyzed associations using multiple logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Maternal postpartum depression and experiencing multiple life events predicted increased internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in children.
- Children of immigrants showed higher risks for internalizing problems; parental unemployment was linked to both internalizing and externalizing problems.
- No significant gene-by-environment or gene-by-gene-by-environment interactions were detected for the studied polymorphisms.
Conclusions:
- The psychosocial environment is a significant determinant of psychosocial health in preschool children.
- This study contributes null findings regarding gene-environment effects of 5-HTTLPR and BDNF polymorphisms in children.
- Highlights the importance of addressing maternal mental health and adverse life events in early childhood interventions.
Background:
The early environment is important for child development and wellbeing. Gene-by-environment studies investigating the impact of the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphisms by life events on mental health and behaviour problems have been inconclusive. Methodological differences regarding sample sizes, study population, definitions of adversities and measures of mental health problems obstacle their comparability. Furthermore, very few studies included children. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between a broad range of risk factors covering pregnancy and birth, genetic polymorphism, experience of multiple life events and psychosocial environment, and child behaviour at age 3, using a comparably large, representative, population-based sample.
Methods:
A total of 1,106 children, and their mothers, were followed from pregnancy to age 3. Information on pregnancy and birth-related factors was retrieved from the Medical Birth Register. Questionnaires on depressive symptoms, child behaviour and child experiences of life events were filled in by the mothers. Child saliva samples were used for genotyping the 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms. Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate the association between psychological scales and genetic polymorphisms.
Results:
Symptoms of postpartum depression increased the risk of both internalizing and externalizing problems. Experience of multiple life events was also a predictor of behavioural problems across the scales. No gene-by-environment or gene-by-gene-by-environment interactions were found. Children of immigrants had an increased risk of internalizing problems and parental unemployment was significantly associated with both internalizing and externalizing type of problems.
Conclusion:
This study shows the importance of the psychosocial environment for psychosocial health in preschool children, and adds to the literature of null-findings of gene-by-environment effects of 5-HTTLPR and BDNF in children.
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