Abstract
ObjectivesSociality is underpinned by a variety of neurochemicals. We previously showed, in a large healthy Caucasian sample, that genes for different neurochemicals are typically associated with differing social domains (disposition, romantic relationships and networks). Here we seek to confirm the validity of these findings by asking whether they replicate in other population samples.MethodsWe test for associations between the same 24 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and measures of sociality as previously, in two smaller independent samples: Caucasian individuals with histories of mental illness (subclinical sample) (N = 140), and non-Caucasian individuals (N = 66). We also combined the relevant SNPs and social measures into 18 distinct neurochemical/social domain categories to examine the distribution of significant associations across these.ResultsIn the subclinical Caucasian sample, we confirm previous associations between (i) specific oxytocin and dopamine receptor gene SNPs and sexual attitudes and behavior, and (ii) two SNPs associated with dopamine receptor 2 and feelings of inclusion in the local community. In the non-Caucasian sample, we replicate the previous association between an oxytocin receptor SNP and anxious attachment. More generally, chi-squared tests indicated that the distribution of significant associations for each neurochemical across the three social domains did not differ significantly between the original sample and either of the new samples, except for oxytocin in the non-Caucasian sample.ConclusionsThese results corroborate both the SNP-specific and broader neurochemical associations with particular facets of sociality in two new populations, thereby confirming the validity of the previous findings.
Highlights
Social network membership allows individuals to access information and resources that are essential for survival, suggesting that maintaining adequate social support has been imperative throughout human evolution (e.g. Adams, Madhavan, & Simon 2002; Cashdan 1985; Pearce & Moutsiou 2014; Whallon 2006)
Follow up work has found that whereas cognitive empathy, which involves being able to take another person’s perspective and to identify the emotions they are expressing, has been linked to variation in variation in the AVPR1A vasopressin receptor gene, while OXTR oxytocin receptor gene variation was linked to emotional or affective empathy, or feeling how another feels (Uzefovsky et al 2015), this contrasts with Rodrigues et al.’s (2009) finding that OXTR is linked to both facets
We report full statistical results of all the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs)-specific associations in the electronic supplementary material Tables S2 & S3, but highlight how the results from the two new samples compare to the original findings of Pearce et al (2017) here
Summary
Social network membership allows individuals to access information and resources that are essential for survival, suggesting that maintaining adequate social support has been imperative throughout human evolution (e.g. Adams, Madhavan, & Simon 2002; Cashdan 1985; Pearce & Moutsiou 2014; Whallon 2006). It is becoming increasingly apparent that the presence of sufficient numbers of supportive social relationships has direct implications for individual health and wellbeing (Cacioppo & Cacioppo 2014; Eisenberger 2013; Holt-Lunstad et al 2010; Umberson and Montez 2010). The degree of social support an individual receives impacts the survival of their offspring (Adams et al 2002). Follow up work has found that whereas cognitive empathy, which involves being able to take another person’s perspective and to identify the emotions they are expressing, has been linked to variation in variation in the AVPR1A vasopressin receptor gene, while OXTR oxytocin receptor gene variation was linked to emotional or affective empathy, or feeling how another feels (Uzefovsky et al 2015), this contrasts with Rodrigues et al.’s (2009) finding that OXTR is linked to both facets
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