scholarly journals Methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene mediates the effect of adversity on negative schemas and depression

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 725-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald L. Simons ◽  
Man Kit Lei ◽  
Steven R. H. Beach ◽  
Carolyn E. Cutrona ◽  
Robert A. Philibert
Keyword(s):  
African American Women ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBuilding upon various lines of research, we posited that methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) would mediate the effect of adult adversity on increased commitment to negative schemas and in turn the development of depression. We tested our model using structural equation modeling and longitudinal data from a sample of 100 middle-aged, African American women. The results provided strong support for the model. Analysis of the 12 CpG sites available for the promoter region of the OXTR gene identified four factors. One of these factors was related to the study variables, whereas the others were not. This factor mediated the effect of adult adversity on schemas relating to pessimism and distrust, and these schemas, in turn, mediated the impact of OXTR methylation on depression. All indirect effects were statistically significant, and they remained significant after controlling for childhood trauma, age, romantic relationship status, individual differences in cell types, and average level of genome-wide methylation. These finding suggest that epigenetic regulation of the oxytocin system may be a mechanism whereby the negative cognitions central to depression become biologically embedded.

scholarly journals Social stress and the oxytocin receptor gene interact to predict antisocial behavior in an at-risk cohort

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 309-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica L. Smearman ◽  
D. Anne Winiarski ◽  
Patricia A. Brennan ◽  
Jake Najman ◽  
Katrina C. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Social Stress ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene

AbstractPolymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor gene are commonly associated with prosocial behaviors in the extant literature, yet their role in antisocial behaviors has rarely been explored, particularly during the transition from adolescence to early adulthood. We examined a prospective cohort (N = 404), collecting youth, mother, and clinician reports of conduct-disordered and antisocial behavior at ages 15 and 20. The oxytocin receptor gene rs53576 polymorphism was hypothesized to interact with social stress to predict antisocial outcomes. Structural equation modeling results revealed a significant main effect at age 15 (p = .025); those with the G allele exhibited higher levels of conduct problems. Structural equation modeling revealed a significant Gene × Environment interaction at age 20 (p = .029); those with the G allele who experienced high social stress exhibited higher levels of antisocial behavior. Heterozygous (AG) grouping models were compared, and parameter estimations supported G dominant groupings. These novel findings suggest that rs53576 polymorphisms may influence social salience and contribute to risk for antisocial outcomes, particularly under conditions of high social stress.

scholarly journals Epigenetic dynamics in infancy and the impact of maternal engagement

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. eaay0680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen M. Krol ◽  
Robert G. Moulder ◽  
Travis S. Lillard ◽  
Tobias Grossmann ◽  
Jessica J. Connelly
Keyword(s):  
Human Behavior ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
First Year ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene ◽  
Early Environment ◽  
Nature Versus Nurture ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Regulatory Sites

The contribution of nature versus nurture to the development of human behavior has been debated for centuries. Here, we offer a piece to this complex puzzle by identifying the human endogenous oxytocin system—known for its critical role in mammalian sociality—as a system sensitive to its early environment and subject to epigenetic change. Recent animal work suggests that early parental care is associated with changes in DNA methylation of conserved regulatory sites within the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTRm). Through dyadic modeling of behavior and OXTRm status across the first year and a half of life, we translated these findings to 101 human mother-infant dyads. We show that OXTRm is dynamic in infancy and its change is predicted by maternal engagement and reflective of behavioral temperament. We provide evidence for an early window of environmental epigenetic regulation of the oxytocin system, facilitating the emergence of individual differences in human behavior.

scholarly journals Trade-offs among transport, support, and storage in xylem from shrubs in a semiarid chaparral environment tested with structural equation modeling

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (33) ◽  
pp. e2104336118
Author(s):  
R. B. Pratt ◽  
A. L. Jacobsen ◽  
M. I. Percolla ◽  
M. E. De Guzman ◽  
C. A. Traugh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Transport Efficiency ◽  
Xylem Structure ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Embolism Resistance

The xylem in plants is specialized to transport water, mechanically support the plant body, and store water and carbohydrates. Balancing these functions leads to trade-offs that are linked to xylem structure. We proposed a multivariate hypothesis regarding the main xylem functions and tested it using structural equation modeling. We sampled 29 native shrub species from field sites in semiarid Southern California. We quantified xylem water transport (embolism resistance and transport efficiency), mechanical strength, storage of water (capacitance) and starch, minimum hydrostatic pressures (Pmin), and proportions of fibers, vessels, and parenchyma, which were treated as a latent variable representing “cellular trade-offs.” We found that xylem functions (transport, mechanical support, water storage, and starch storage) were independent, a result driven by Pmin. Pmin was strongly and directly or indirectly associated with all xylem functions as a hub trait. More negative Pmin was associated with increased embolism resistance and tissue strength and reduced capacitance and starch storage. We found strong support for a trade-off between embolism resistance and transport efficiency. Tissue strength was not directly associated with embolism resistance or transport efficiency, and any associations were indirect involving Pmin. With Pmin removed from the model, cellular trade-offs were central and related to all other traits. We conclude that xylem traits are broadly governed by functional trade-offs and that the Pmin experienced by plants in the field exerts a strong influence over these relationships. Angiosperm xylem contains different cell types that contribute to different functions and that underpin trade-offs.

scholarly journals Childhood Adversity, Socioeconomic Instability, Oxytocin-Receptor-Gene Methylation, and Romantic-Relationship Support Among Young African American Men

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1234-1244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven M. Kogan ◽  
Dayoung Bae ◽  
Junhan Cho ◽  
Alicia K. Smith ◽  
Shota Nishitani
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
African American Men ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Childhood Adversity ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Early Adversity ◽  
Gene Methylation ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene

Men’s emerging adult romantic relationships forecast downstream relationship behavior, including commitment and quality. Accumulating evidence implicates methylation of the oxytocin-receptor-gene ( OXTR) system in regulating relationship behavior. We tested hypotheses regarding the links between (a) childhood adversity and (b) socioeconomic instability in emerging adulthood on supportive romantic relationships via their associations with OXTR methylation. Hypotheses were tested using path analysis with data from 309 participants in the African American Men’s Project. Consistent with our hypotheses, results showed that OXTR methylation proximally predicted changes in relationship support during a 1.5-year period. Childhood adversity was not directly associated with OXTR methylation but, rather, with contemporaneous socioeconomic instability, which in turn predicted elevated OXTR methylation. Findings suggest that early adversity is indirectly associated with OXTR methylation by links with downstream socioeconomic instability. Findings must be considered provisional, however, because preregistered replications are needed to establish more firmly the relations among these variables.

scholarly journals Epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene influences the perception of anger and fear in the human brain

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 3308-3313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan H. Puglia ◽  
Travis S. Lillard ◽  
James P. Morris ◽  
Jessica J. Connelly
Keyword(s):  
Epigenetic Modification ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Emotional Behavior ◽  
Functional Coupling ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Emotional Face ◽  
The Impact

In humans, the neuropeptide oxytocin plays a critical role in social and emotional behavior. The actions of this molecule are dependent on a protein that acts as its receptor, which is encoded by the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). DNA methylation of OXTR, an epigenetic modification, directly influences gene transcription and is variable in humans. However, the impact of this variability on specific social behaviors is unknown. We hypothesized that variability in OXTR methylation impacts social perceptual processes often linked with oxytocin, such as perception of facial emotions. Using an imaging epigenetic approach, we established a relationship between OXTR methylation and neural activity in response to emotional face processing. Specifically, high levels of OXTR methylation were associated with greater amounts of activity in regions associated with face and emotion processing including amygdala, fusiform, and insula. Importantly, we found that these higher levels of OXTR methylation were also associated with decreased functional coupling of amygdala with regions involved in affect appraisal and emotion regulation. These data indicate that the human endogenous oxytocin system is involved in attenuation of the fear response, corroborating research implicating intranasal oxytocin in the same processes. Our findings highlight the importance of including epigenetic mechanisms in the description of the endogenous oxytocin system and further support a central role for oxytocin in social cognition. This approach linking epigenetic variability with neural endophenotypes may broadly explain individual differences in phenotype including susceptibility or resilience to disease.

The Role of Career Self-Efficacy on the Effect of Parental Career Behaviors on Career Exploration: A Study on School of Tourism and Hotel Management’ Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selahattin Kanten ◽  
Pelin Kanten ◽  
Murat Yeşiltaş
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Career Exploration ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Hotel Management ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Impact

This study aims to investigate the impact of parental career behaviors on undergraduate student’s career exploration and the mediating role of career self-efficacy. In the literature it is suggested that some social and individual factors facilitate students’ career exploration. Therefore, parental career behaviors and career self-efficacy is considered as predictors of student’s career exploration attitudes within the scope of the study. In this respect, data which are collected from 405 undergraduate students having an education on tourism and hotel management field by the survey method are analyzed by using the structural equation modeling. The results of the study indicate that parental career behaviors which are addressed support; interference and lack of engagement have a significant effect on student’s career exploration behaviors such as intended-systematic exploration, environment exploration and self-exploration. In addition, it has been found that one of the dimensions of parental career behaviors addressed as a lack of engagement has a significant effect on career self-efficacy levels of students. However, research results indicate that student’s career self-efficacy has a significant effect on only the self-exploration dimension. On the other hand, career self-efficacy has a partial mediating role between lack of engagement attitudes of parents and career exploration behaviors of students.

PENGARUH PELATIHAN, KOMPETENSI, MOTIVASI DAN KEPEMIMPINAN TERHADAP KINERJA PEGAWAI DENGAN PENDIDIKAN SEBAGAI PEMODERATOR PADA BALAI PENDIDIKAN DAN PELATIHAN APARATUR KEMENTERIAN KELAUTAN DAN PERIKANAN

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-49
Author(s):  
Wahyu Yulianto
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Performance Appraisal ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Training Centre ◽  
Competence Motivation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mediator Variable

The study purpose is to analyse the impact of training, competence, motivation and leadership towards performance either directly or through job satisfaction as a mediator variable. As many as 55 staff are considered as respondents in this research, and census method is used as the sampling method. Primary data in this study were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using Likert Scale. Secondary data are obtained from the organization structure Sukamandi Apparatus Training Centre (BDA), performance appraisal, staff attendance, information system and personnel management. Structural Equation Modeling Analisis of Moment Structures (SEM-AMOS) is used to process and analyze data. This study shows staff with high education, competence and leadership have a significant effect on performance, While the job satisfaction is significant in mediating the influence of training, competence and leadership on performance. Next on the employee with low education, training, competence, motivation and leadership have a significant influence on performance, while job satisfaction is significant in mediating the effect of competence and leadership on staff performance.   Keywords:  training, competence, motivation, leadership, job satisfaction, performance

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document