The moderating effect of monoamine oxidase A gene polymorphism in relationship between childhood abuse of male adolescents and externalizing behaviors

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship between male adolescents' childhood abuse and externalizing behaviors, and the moderating effect of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA)gene promoter region variable number tandem repeat (VNTR)polymorphism. Methods Through random cluster sampling, 352 Han male middle school students from Changsha were tested by Achenbach child behavior checklist-youth self reports (CBCL-YSR)and childhood trauma questionnaire-28 item short form(CTQ-SF), their MAOA genotypes were also identified. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to test the moderating effect. Results (1) Compared participates with high activity MAOA gene and that with low activity MAOA gene, there were no significant differences on age((15.82±1.52) vs (15.94±1.62)), externalizing behaviors((15.13±10.14) vs (14.33±9.70)), total abuse((52.59±10.46) vs (51.39±7.56)), emotional abuse((7.63±3.31) vs ( 7.11±2.68)), physical abuse((6.40±2.82) vs (6.12±2.05)), sexual abuse((6.42±3.24) vs (5.94±1.72)), emotional neglect((13.44±5.12) vs (13.16±4.83)), physical neglect((10.27±2.64) vs (10.44±2.53))(t=-1.789~0.678, P>0.05). (2)Except emotional neglect and physical neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse could predict externalizing behaviors(Sβ=0.141~0.347, P 0.05). There was a significant interaction between MAOA gene and emotional abuse(Sβ=-0.148, P 0.05). Conclusion MAOA gene polymorphism can moderate the relationship between male adolescents' childhood emotional abuse and externalizing behaviors. Key words: Externalizing behavior; Monoamine oxidase A gene; Childhood abuse; Moderating effort