Polygenic differential susceptibility to prenatal adversity

AbstractA recent article in this journal reported a number of gene × environment interactions involving a serotonin transporter–gene network polygenic score and a composite index of prenatal adversity predicting several problem behavior outcomes at 48 months (e.g., anxious/depressed, pervasive developmental problems) and at 60 months (e.g., withdrawal, internalizing problems), yet did not illuminate the nature or form these genetic × environment interactions took. Here we report results of six additional analyses to evaluate whether these interactions reflected diathesis–stress or differential–susceptibility related processes. Analyses of the regions of significance and proportion of interaction index are consistent with the diathesis–stress model, seemingly because of the truncated nature of the adversity score (which did not extend to supportive/positive prenatal experiences/exposures); in contrast, the proportion (of cases) affected index favors the differential–susceptibility model. These results suggest the need for future studies to extend measurement of the prenatal environment to highly supportive experiences and exposures.

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Statistical tests of differential susceptibility: Performance, limitations, and improvements

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579416001292 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 1267-1278 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Marco Del Giudice

Keyword(s):

Monte Carlo ◽

Statistical Approach ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Differential Susceptibility ◽

Initial Response ◽

Empirical Literature ◽

False Negatives ◽

Interaction Index ◽

Future Studies ◽

Highly Sensitive

AbstractStatistical tests of differential susceptibility have become standard in the empirical literature, and are routinely used to adjudicate between alternative developmental hypotheses. However, their performance and limitations have never been systematically investigated. In this paper I employ Monte Carlo simulations to explore the functioning of three commonly used tests proposed by Roisman et al. (2012). Simulations showed that critical tests of differential susceptibility require considerably larger samples than standard power calculations would suggest. The results also showed that existing criteria for differential susceptibility based on the proportion of interaction index (i.e., values between .40 and .60) are especially likely to produce false negatives and highly sensitive to assumptions about interaction symmetry. As an initial response to these problems, I propose a revised test based on a broader window of proportion of interaction index values (between .20 and .80). Additional simulations showed that the revised test outperforms existing tests of differential susceptibility, considerably improving detection with little effect on the rate of false positives. I conclude by noting the limitations of a purely statistical approach to differential susceptibility, and discussing the implications of the present results for the interpretation of published findings and the design of future studies in this area.

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Differential susceptibility to environmental influences: Interactions between child temperament and parenting in adolescent alcohol use

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579415000437 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 265-275 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Charlie Rioux ◽

Natalie Castellanos-Ryan ◽

Sophie Parent ◽

Frank Vitaro ◽

Richard E. Tremblay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Parental Monitoring ◽

Differential Susceptibility ◽

Child Temperament ◽

Stress Model ◽

Parental Practices ◽

Adolescent Alcohol Use ◽

Adolescent Alcohol ◽

Susceptibility Model ◽

Diathesis Stress Model

AbstractTemperament and parental practices (PP) are important predictors of adolescent alcohol use (AU); however, less is known about how they combine to increase or decrease risk of AU. This study examined whether age 6 temperament (i.e., impulsivity and inhibitory control) interacted with age 6 coercive PP and/or age 14 parental monitoring to predict AU at 15 years among 209 adolescents. Results showed that low parental monitoring was associated with more frequent AU and that coercive PP interacted with impulsivity to predict AU. This interaction was examined as a function of two models that were not studied before in the prediction of AU: the diathesis–stress model (i.e., impulsive children are more “vulnerable” to adverse PP than those with an easy temperament); and the differential susceptibility model (i.e., impulsive children are also more likely to benefit from good PP). Results supported the differential susceptibility model by showing that impulsive children were not only at higher risk for AU when combined with high coercive PP but also benefit from the absence of coercive PP. This supports the suggestion that the conception of certain temperament characteristics, or in this case impulsivity, as a “vulnerability” for adolescent AU, may need revision because it misrepresents the malleability it may imply.

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Children's genotypes interact with maternal responsive care in predicting children's competence: Diathesis–stress or differential susceptibility?

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579411000071 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 605-616 ◽

Cited By ~ 100

Author(s):

Grazyna Kochanska ◽

Sanghag Kim ◽

Robin A. Barry ◽

Robert A. Philibert

Keyword(s):

Social Competence ◽

School Engagement ◽

Promoter Region ◽

Differential Susceptibility ◽

Academic Skills ◽

Moral Cognition ◽

Moral Self ◽

Children's Narratives ◽

Susceptibility Model ◽

Diathesis Stress Model

AbstractWe examined Genotype × Environment (G × E) interactions between children's genotypes (the serotonin transporter linked promoter region [5-HTTLPR] gene) and maternal responsive care observed at 15, 25, 38, and 52 months on three aspects of children's competence at 67 months: academic skills and school engagement, social functioning with peers, and moral internalization that encompassed prosocial moral cognition and the moral self. Academic and social competence outcomes were reported by both parents, and moral internalization was observed in children's narratives elicited by hypothetical stories and in a puppet interview. Analyses revealed robust G × E interactions, such that children's genotype moderated the effects of maternal responsive care on all aspects of children's competence. Among children with a short5-HTTLPRallele (ss/sl), those whose mothers were more responsive were significantly more competent than those whose mothers were less responsive. Responsiveness had no effect for children with two long alleles (ll). For academic and social competence, the G × E interactions resembled the diathesis–stress model: ss/sl children of unresponsive mothers had particularly unfavorable outcomes, but ss/sl children of responsive mothers had no worse outcomes than ll children. For moral internalization, the G × E interaction reflected the differential susceptibility model: whereas ss/sl children of unresponsive mothers again had particularly unfavorable outcomes, ss/sl children of responsive mothers had significantly better outcomes than ll children.

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Parent and youth dopamine D4 receptor genotypes moderate multilevel contextual effects on rural African American youth's risk behavior

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579415000565 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 433-445 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Junhan Cho ◽

Steven M. Kogan

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Risk Behavior ◽

Differential Susceptibility ◽

Dopamine D4 Receptor ◽

Gene Environment ◽

Youth Risk Behavior ◽

Susceptibility Model ◽

Protective Parenting ◽

D4 Receptor ◽

Community Disadvantage

AbstractThe present investigation extends research on Gene × Environment interactions and youth risk behavior by linking multilevel contextual factors, such as community disadvantage and protective parenting practices, to both parental and youth dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) genotypes. We expected community disadvantage to influence youth risk behavior via a series of indirect effects involving protective parenting and youth's planful future orientation when both parents’ and youth's DRD4 status was considered. Genetic moderation processes also were tested to determine whether they conformed to a diathesis–stress or a differential susceptibility model. Hypotheses were investigated with data from 361 rural African American youth and their parents assessed 3 times when youth were ages 16 to 19. Community disadvantage interacted with parental DRD4 status to predict low levels of protective parenting. Protective parenting, in turn, interacted with youth DRD4 status to forecast increases in youth's planful future orientations, a proximal influence on changes in risk behavior. The Parental DRD4 × Community Disadvantage interaction, but not youth DRD4 × Protective Parenting, conformed to a differential susceptibility model. Indirect effect analyses revealed a significant indirect path linking community disadvantage to youth risk behavior through a series of multilevel Gene × Environment interaction processes.

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The BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Interacts with Maternal Parenting Influencing Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: Evidence of Differential Susceptibility Model

Journal of Youth and Adolescence ◽

10.1007/s10964-015-0378-x ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 471-483 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Leilei Zhang ◽

Zhi Li ◽

Jie Chen ◽

Xinying Li ◽

Jianxin Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Differential Susceptibility ◽

Val66met Polymorphism ◽

Maternal Parenting ◽

Adolescent Depressive Symptoms ◽

Susceptibility Model ◽

Bdnf Val66met Polymorphism

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Gene × Environment interactions in speech sound disorder predict language and preliteracy outcomes

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579407000533 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 1047-1072 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Lauren M. McGrath ◽

Bruce F. Pennington ◽

Erik G. Willcutt ◽

Richard Boada ◽

Lawrence D. Shriberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Speech Sound ◽

Home Language ◽

Stress Model ◽

Speech Sound Disorder ◽

Literacy Environment ◽

Bioecological Model ◽

Gene Environment ◽

Ear Infections ◽

Environmental Measures ◽

Diathesis Stress Model

AbstractFew studies have investigated the role of gene × environment interactions (G × E) in speech, language, and literacy disorders. Currently, there are two theoretical models, the diathesis–stress model and the bioecological model, that make opposite predictions about the expected direction of G × E, because environmental risk factors may either strengthen or weaken the effect of genes on phenotypes. The purpose of the current study was to test for G × E at two speech sound disorder and reading disability linkage peaks using a sib-pair linkage design and continuous measures of socioeconomic status, home language/literacy environment, and number of ear infections. The interactions were tested using composite speech, language, and preliteracy phenotypes and previously identified linkage peaks on 6p22 and 15q21. Results showed five G × E at both the 6p22 and 15q21 locations across several phenotypes and environmental measures. Four of the five interactions were consistent with the bioecological model of G × E. Each of these four interactions involved environmental measures of the home language/literacy environment. The only interaction that was consistent with the diathesis–stress model was one involving the number of ear infections as the environmental risk variable. The direction of these interactions and possible interpretations are explored in the discussion.

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Gene–environment interactions

10.1093/med/9780198739258.003.0005 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Barbara Franke ◽

Jan K. Buitelaar

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Genetic Variant ◽

Differential Susceptibility ◽

Gene Environment ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Single Genome ◽

Disease Aetiology ◽

Different Types ◽

Postnatal Risk Factors ◽

Genome Wide Study

ADHD is highly heritable, but environmental factors also play significant roles in disease aetiology and outcome. Genetic and environmental influences are likely to show different types of interplay, with gene–environment interactions (G×E) playing a part. Different models of G×E exist, with the most frequently investigated in ADHD up to the present being the diathesis–stress and differential susceptibility models. The most frequently studied have been monoaminergic genes, often based on a single genetic variant. Only a single genome-wide study has been reported thus far. Environmental factors investigated include prenatal and postnatal risk factors for ADHD, in particular prenatal exposure to smoking or alcohol and aspects of parenting.

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Gene-Environment Interaction in Youth Depression: Differential Susceptibility?

American Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15111391 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 173 (3) ◽

pp. 299-299

Author(s):

Eric M. Plakun

Keyword(s):

Differential Susceptibility ◽

Environment Interaction ◽

Youth Depression ◽

Gene Environment Interaction ◽

Gene Environment

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Influence of Early Family Cohesion on Future Orientation

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000260 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 166-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lei Zheng ◽

Yiqun Gan

Keyword(s):

Family Cohesion ◽

Future Orientation ◽

Environmental Influences ◽

Differential Susceptibility ◽

Chinese Han ◽

Psychological Traits ◽

Fk506 Binding Protein ◽

Susceptibility Model ◽

History Of ◽

Early Family

Abstract. Future orientation is defined as a disposition that is characterized by goal-related thoughts, plans, motivations, feelings, and actions. Early experiences are critical for the development of future orientation. The purpose of the present research was to examine whether the FKBP5 (FK506 binding protein 5) rs1360780 polymorphism moderates associations between early family cohesion and adulthood future orientation. In total, 1,007 Chinese Han individuals participated in the present study. The results indicated that early family cohesion is associated with adulthood future orientation, and that FKBP5 polymorphisms play a moderating role between these factors. Specifically, individuals with the TT genotype and a history of poor family cohesion exhibited a lower degree of future orientation whereas those with good family cohesion showed a higher level of this trait. However, individuals with the CC/CT genotype expressed lower levels of environmental susceptibility. In line with the differential susceptibility model, these findings demonstrate that the TT genotype is more malleable to environmental influences. Accordingly, individuals with this genotype suffer a higher risk of exhibiting poor future orientation when exposed to negative experiences, and positive psychological traits under enriching environmental influences.

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