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A genetic variant brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphism interacts with hostile parenting to predict

Alexandria Meyer1, Greg Hajcak1, Elizabeth Hayden1

  • 1Florida State University.

Development and Psychopathology
|April 22, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Harsh parenting increases error-related brain activity (ERN) in children with a specific BDNF gene variant, linking it to internalizing disorders. This pathway differs for externalizing outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The error-related negativity (ERN) reflects brain activity during errors and is elevated in children with internalizing psychopathology.
  • Harsh parenting is linked to a larger ERN in children.
  • Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene variations may influence responses to early life adversity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if BDNF genotype moderates the association between harsh parenting and ERN.
  • To examine the mediating role of ERN in the link between harsh parenting and internalizing/externalizing disorders.
  • To understand the distinct pathways through which harsh parenting influences child psychopathology.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 201 parent-child dyads.
  • Assessed parenting at age 3, followed by ERN measurement, diagnostic interviews, and symptom measures at age 6.
  • Genotyping for BDNF gene variants (methionine allele).

Main Results:

  • Harsh parenting predicted a larger ERN specifically in children with the BDNF methionine allele.
  • ERN mediated the relationship between harsh parenting and internalizing diagnoses/symptoms only in children with the methionine allele.
  • Harsh parenting predicted externalizing outcomes, but ERN did not mediate this association.

Conclusions:

  • Harsh parenting influences internalizing disorders through error-related brain activity (ERN), particularly in children with the BDNF methionine allele.
  • The pathway from harsh parenting to externalizing disorders does not involve ERN.
  • Error-related brain activity plays a unique role in the development of internalizing disorders following early adversity.

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