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Gene-Environment Interplay Beyond Interactions: Psychosocial Environments Mediate Genetic Effects Underlying
LiChen Dong1,2,3, A Brooke Sasia1,2,3, James J Li1,2,3
1Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Summary
Genetic predispositions for externalizing behaviors influence substance use and antisocial trajectories indirectly through psychosocial environments, particularly peer affiliations. These findings highlight the significant role of peer influence in gene-environment interplay for behavioral development.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral genetics
- Developmental psychology
- Psychosocial development
Background:
- Externalizing (EXT) behaviors encompass substance use (SUB) and antisocial behaviors (ASB).
- Gene-environment interplay is crucial for understanding the developmental trajectories of EXT behaviors.
- Previous research has identified polygenic scores (PGS) associated with EXT behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how adolescent psychosocial environments moderate and mediate the effects of EXT polygenic scores (PGS) on substance use (SUB) and antisocial behavior (ASB) trajectories.
- To examine gene-environment interplay in diverse genetic similarity groups.
- To elucidate the indirect pathways through which genetic predispositions influence long-term behavioral development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Add Health study, analyzing latent trajectories of SUB and ASB from ages 13 to 41.
- Modeled adolescent psychosocial environments (parenting, peer affiliation, school/neighborhood connectedness) as moderators and mediators.
- Examined effects of EXT PGS in European, African, Asian, and Hispanic genetic similarity groups.
Main Results:
- No evidence of moderation effects of psychosocial environments on the direct influence of EXT PGS.
- Significant indirect effects of EXT PGS on SUB and ASB trajectories were observed, mediated by psychosocial environments.
- Delinquent peer affiliation emerged as a key mediator, highlighting its role in the gene-environment interplay for EXT behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Genetic predispositions for externalizing behaviors do not operate in isolation but are significantly shaped by psychosocial factors.
- Peer influences, specifically delinquent peer affiliation, play a critical role in mediating the impact of genetic risk on externalizing behavior trajectories.
- Understanding these indirect pathways is essential for developing effective interventions for externalizing behaviors.
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