TY - JOUR
T1 - Genetic associations with resilience to potentially traumatic events and vantage sensitivity to social support
AU - Niitsu, Kosuke
AU - Houfek, Julia F.
AU - Rice, Michael J.
AU - Stoltenberg, Scott F.
AU - Kupzyk, Kevin
AU - Barron, Cecilia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2022/10
Y1 - 2022/10
N2 - Introduction: Stress responses and mental health outcomes greatly vary when individuals are exposed to potentially traumatic events (PTEs). The Differential Susceptibility Model (DSM) (Pluess, 2015) suggests individual differences in stress responses are influenced by gene-environment interactions, with genes conferring reactivity. While individuals can be resilient (or vulnerable) to PTEs, they can also have vantage sensitivity (or resistance) to social support. This study examined whether selected genotypes moderated the effect of PTEs and social support on mental health. Methods: This cross-sectional candidate gene study included 450 college students (M age = 20.4, 79.3 % women) who provided buccal cells for genotyping and completed measures of psychosocial variables. DNA was genotyped for 12 genetic variants. Results: Hierarchical regression revealed that the Mental Health Inventory (MHI) was associated with the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ), rs1800795 in IL-6, and THQ × rs1800795 [R2 = 0.10, F(3, 418) = 15.68, p < .01]. The MHI was associated with the Social Support Survey (SSS), rs4680 in COMT, and SSS × rs4680 [R2 = 0.24, F(3, 429) = 44.19, p < .01]. Only THQ and SSS survived multiple testing corrections. Discussion: Findings partially support the DSM that the G/G genotype of rs1800795 in IL-6 is associated with resilience to PTEs, and the Met/Met genotype of rs4680 in COMT is associated with vantage sensitivity to social support. Limitations include cross-sectional design, limited PTE measurement, small convenience sample, and noncorrection for multiple significance test. Clinicians need to view resilience holistically and understand resilience is associated with psychosocial and genetic factors.
AB - Introduction: Stress responses and mental health outcomes greatly vary when individuals are exposed to potentially traumatic events (PTEs). The Differential Susceptibility Model (DSM) (Pluess, 2015) suggests individual differences in stress responses are influenced by gene-environment interactions, with genes conferring reactivity. While individuals can be resilient (or vulnerable) to PTEs, they can also have vantage sensitivity (or resistance) to social support. This study examined whether selected genotypes moderated the effect of PTEs and social support on mental health. Methods: This cross-sectional candidate gene study included 450 college students (M age = 20.4, 79.3 % women) who provided buccal cells for genotyping and completed measures of psychosocial variables. DNA was genotyped for 12 genetic variants. Results: Hierarchical regression revealed that the Mental Health Inventory (MHI) was associated with the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ), rs1800795 in IL-6, and THQ × rs1800795 [R2 = 0.10, F(3, 418) = 15.68, p < .01]. The MHI was associated with the Social Support Survey (SSS), rs4680 in COMT, and SSS × rs4680 [R2 = 0.24, F(3, 429) = 44.19, p < .01]. Only THQ and SSS survived multiple testing corrections. Discussion: Findings partially support the DSM that the G/G genotype of rs1800795 in IL-6 is associated with resilience to PTEs, and the Met/Met genotype of rs4680 in COMT is associated with vantage sensitivity to social support. Limitations include cross-sectional design, limited PTE measurement, small convenience sample, and noncorrection for multiple significance test. Clinicians need to view resilience holistically and understand resilience is associated with psychosocial and genetic factors.
KW - Candidate gene association study
KW - Differential susceptibility model
KW - Potentially traumatic events
KW - Resilience
KW - Social support
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U2 - 10.1016/j.apnu.2022.07.013
DO - 10.1016/j.apnu.2022.07.013
M3 - Article
C2 - 36064238
AN - SCOPUS:85134487234
SN - 0883-9417
VL - 40
SP - 147
EP - 157
JO - Archives of Psychiatric Nursing
JF - Archives of Psychiatric Nursing
ER -