Citation

Ebbert AM, Infurna FJ, Luthar SS, Lemery-Chalfant K, Corbin WR. Child Abuse Negl. 2019; 98: 104151.

Affiliation

Arizona State University, Department of Psychology, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104151

PMID

31521905

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs53576, of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) has been associated with fundamental aspects of social processes and behaviors. Compared to A carriers, GG individuals have enhanced social competencies and tend to elicit more positive responses from social partners. However, the G allele of the OXTR rs53576 has also been associated with greater social sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the unique influence of emotional childhood abuse on positive and negative aspects of different types of social relationships (e.g., family, spouse/partner, and friends) in midlife and whether genetic variations of OXTR rs53576 moderated these associations. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: A total of 614 participants in midlife (aged 40-65), recruited for a large-scale study of Phoenix metropolitan residents (AS U Live Project), answered self-report questionnaires and provided blood samples for DNA genotyping.

METHODS: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses tested whether emotional childhood abuse predicted social support and strain for each relationship type and whether these potential linkages differed by OXTR genotype (GG versus AA/AG).

RESULTS: Overall, individuals with a history of emotional childhood abuse had less supportive and more strained relationships in midlife. For supportive family relationships, the effect of emotional childhood abuse was moderated by OXTR rs53576 (p < .001). Under conditions of experiencing more emotional abuse in childhood, GG individuals had more supportive family relationships in midlife compared to A carriers.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, genetic variations of OXTR rs53576 may be an important candidate in understanding the development of social functioning within the context of emotional childhood abuse.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Emotional childhood abuse; Midlife; OXTR rs53576; Oxytocin receptor gene; Social relationships