Epigenetic Modifications Associated with Maternal Anxiety during Pregnancy and Children’s Behavioral Measures

Epigenetic changes are associated with altered behavior and neuropsychiatric disorders and they modify the trajectory of aging. Maternal anxiety during pregnancy is a common environmental challenge for the fetus, causing changes in DNA methylation. Here, we determined the mediating role of DNA methylation and the moderating role of offspring sex on the association between maternal anxiety and children’s behavioral measures. In 83 mother–child dyads, maternal anxiety was assessed in each trimester of pregnancy when the child was four years of age. Children’s behavioral measures and children’s buccal DNA methylation levels (NR3C1, IGF2/H19 ICR, and LINE1) were examined. Higher maternal anxiety during the third trimester was associated with more methylation levels of the NR3C1. Moderating effects of sex on the association between maternal anxiety and methylation were found for IGF2/H19 and LINE1 CpGs. Mediation analysis showed that methylation of NR3C1 could buffer the effects of maternal anxiety on children’s behavioral measures, but this effect did not remain significant after controlling for covariates. In conclusion, our data support an association between maternal anxiety during pregnancy and DNA methylation. The results also underscore the importance of sex differences and timing effects. However, DNA methylation as underlying mechanism of the effect of maternal anxiety during pregnancy on offspring’s behavioral measures was not supported.

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Mediating Effect of WhatsApp Addiction Between Social Loneliness and Preference for Online Social Interaction: A Cross-cultural Study

Global Business Review ◽

10.1177/09721509211055603 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 097215092110556

Author(s):

Komal Nagar ◽

Gurmeet Singh ◽

Rabinder Singh

Keyword(s):

Social Interaction ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Cross Cultural Study ◽

Online Social Interaction ◽

The Relationship ◽

Moderating Role ◽

Social Loneliness

The present study aims to explore the relationship between social loneliness and online interaction through WhatsApp addiction among a sample of Indian and Fijian respondents. Based on the responses of 202 Indian and 73 Fijian respondents, the present research study validated the mediating role of WhatsApp addiction, revealing that social loneliness increased the possibility of preferring to interact online through increased WhatsApp addiction. The empirical results showed that the underlying mechanism of social loneliness might indirectly influence consumers’ preference for online social interaction (POSI). The study further assessed the moderating role of culture in the association between social loneliness and POSI. Findings of the moderated mediation analysis demonstrated that, the association between loneliness and preference to socialize online differed, based on the identified cultural differences between Indian and Fijian groups.

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Impact of workplace ostracism on knowledge hoarding: mediating role of defensive silence and moderating role of experiential avoidance

Future Business Journal ◽

10.1186/s43093-020-00045-6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Bilal Khalid ◽

Rimsha Iqbal ◽

Syed Danial Hashmi

Keyword(s):

Experiential Avoidance ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Resource Theory ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Workplace Ostracism ◽

Hoarding Behavior ◽

Knowledge Hoarding ◽

Moderating Role

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to investigate the underlying mechanism through which knowledge hoarding is triggered among ostracized employees at workplace. Drawing on conservation of resource theory, the study investigates the mediating role of defensive silence in this relationship. Further, the study also examines the moderating role of experiential avoidance between workplace ostracism and defensive silence. Using multi-layered and convenient sampling technique, data were collected from 225 employees working in the hospitality industry in Pakistan. The results revealed that workplace ostracism significantly influences employees’ knowledge hoarding behavior both directly and through defensive silence. Furthermore, contrary to the expectation, the combined effect of workplace ostracism and experiential avoidance on defensive silence was found insignificant, which we have discussed. The study provides insights for managers to break the knowledge hoarding cycle and create new models for interaction and knowledge sharing among employees at workplace.

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