Gene–environment interaction: Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) polymorphisms and parenting style as potential predictors for depressive symptoms

Abstract

Depression is a common mental health problem that is thought to develop through a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors, including parental behaviours and parental mental health. The present study investigated the potential interaction between oxytocin receptor (OXTR) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs53576, rs237880, rs237887, rs237889, rs237898, rs1042778, rs2268490, rs2268491, rs4686302, rs6770632, rs13316193) and parenting style in adolescence in relation to depressive symptoms among young adults. The sample consisted of 1,098 Caucasian participants (63.6% females) and their parents. The present study included data from the Survey of Adolescent Life Cohort study collected in 2012 at wave I (mage 14.4 years; DNA collection), 2015 at wave II (mage 17.36 years; Estimation of parenting style, depressive symptoms, and parental depression) and 2018 at wave III (mage 20.19 years; Depressive symptoms). Evidence for an interaction effect between OXTR SNP rs6770632 and negative parenting style on depressive symptoms among young adults was found with support for the diathesis–stress theory. The rs6770632 was associated with depressive symptoms at higher levels of negative parenting, with A:A allele carriers reporting higher levels of depressive symptoms than C:C and C:A allele carriers. The present study provides preliminary knowledge about the potential moderation effects of perceived negative parenting on the effect of OXTR SNPs on depressive symptoms among young adults, independent of sex, previous reports of depressive symptoms, and parental depression.