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Willems YE, Raffington L, Ligthart L, Pool R, Hottenga JJ, Finkenauer C, Bartels M. No gene by stressful life events interaction on individual differences in adults' self-control. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1388264. [PMID: 38693999 PMCID: PMC11061522 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1388264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Difficulty with self-control, or the ability to alter impulses and behavior in a goal-directed way, predicts interpersonal conflict, lower socioeconomic attainments, and more adverse health outcomes. Etiological understanding, and intervention for low self-control is, therefore, a public health goal. A prominent developmental theory proposes that individuals with high genetic propensity for low self-control that are also exposed to stressful environments may be most at-risk of low levels of self-control. Here we examine if polygenic measures associated with behaviors marked by low self-control interact with stressful life events in predicting self-control. Methods Leveraging molecular data from a large population-based Dutch sample (N = 7,090, Mage = 41.2) to test for effects of genetics (i.e., polygenic scores for ADHD and aggression), stressful life events (e.g., traffic accident, violent assault, financial problems), and a gene-by-stress interaction on self-control (measured with the ASEBA Self-Control Scale). Results Both genetics (β =.03 -.04, p <.001) and stressful life events (β = .11 -.14, p <.001) were associated with individual differences in self-control. We find no evidence of a gene-by-stressful life events interaction on individual differences in adults' self-control. Conclusion Our findings are consistent with the notion that genetic influences and stressful life events exert largely independent effects on adult self-control. However, the small effect sizes of polygenic scores increases the likelihood of null results. Genetically-informed longitudinal research in large samples can further inform the etiology of individual differences in self-control from early childhood into later adulthood and its downstream implications for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yayouk Eva Willems
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Max Planck Research Group Biosocial – Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Laurel Raffington
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Max Planck Research Group Biosocial – Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lannie Ligthart
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rene Pool
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jouke Jan Hottenga
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Catrin Finkenauer
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Universiteit Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Meike Bartels
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Chiș A, Oltean LE, Bîlc M, Vulturar R, Șoflău R, David D, Szentágotai-Tătar A, Miu AC. Gene-Environment Interactions in Irrational Beliefs: The Roles of Childhood Adversity and Multiple Candidate Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4206. [PMID: 38673790 PMCID: PMC11050227 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the view that maladaptive thinking is the causal mechanism of mental disorders. While this view is supported by extensive evidence, very limited work has addressed the factors that contribute to the development of maladaptive thinking. The present study aimed to uncover interactions between childhood maltreatment and multiple genetic differences in irrational beliefs. Childhood maltreatment and irrational beliefs were assessed using multiple self-report instruments in a sample of healthy volunteers (N = 452). Eighteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in six candidate genes related to neurotransmitter function (COMT; SLC6A4; OXTR), neurotrophic factors (BDNF), and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (NR3C1; CRHR1). Gene-environment interactions (G×E) were first explored in models that employed one measure of childhood maltreatment and one measure of irrational beliefs. These effects were then followed up in models in which either the childhood maltreatment measure, the irrational belief measure, or both were substituted by parallel measures. Consistent results across models indicated that childhood maltreatment was positively associated with irrational beliefs, and these relations were significantly influenced by COMT rs165774 and OXTR rs53576. These results remain preliminary until independent replication, but they represent the best available evidence to date on G×E in a fundamental mechanism of psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adina Chiș
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.C.); (R.V.)
- Department of Molecular Sciences, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Lia-Ecaterina Oltean
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (L.-E.O.); (R.Ș.); (D.D.)
- The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mirela Bîlc
- Institute for General Practice and Interprofessional Care, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany;
| | - Romana Vulturar
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.C.); (R.V.)
- Department of Molecular Sciences, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Radu Șoflău
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (L.-E.O.); (R.Ș.); (D.D.)
- The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Daniel David
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (L.-E.O.); (R.Ș.); (D.D.)
- The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Aurora Szentágotai-Tătar
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (L.-E.O.); (R.Ș.); (D.D.)
- The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei C. Miu
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.C.); (R.V.)
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Wong WLE, Arathimos R, Lewis CM, Young AH, Dawe GS. Investigating the role of the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system in neuropsychiatric disorders and metabolic phenotypes: A candidate gene approach. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294045. [PMID: 37967073 PMCID: PMC10651050 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The relaxin-3/RXFP3 system has been implicated in the modulation of depressive- and anxiety-like behaviour in the animal literature; however, there is a lack of human studies investigating this signalling system. We seek to bridge this gap by leveraging the large UK Biobank study to retrospectively assess genetic risk variants linked with this neuropeptidergic system. Specifically, we conducted a candidate gene study in the UK Biobank to test for potential associations between a set of functional, candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) pertinent to relaxin-3 signalling, determined using in silico tools, and several outcomes, including depression, atypical depression, anxiety and metabolic syndrome. For each outcome, we used several rigorously defined phenotypes, culminating in subsample sizes ranging from 85,881 to 386,769 participants. Across all outcomes, there were no associations between any candidate SNP and any outcome phenotype, following corrections for multiple testing burden. Regression models comprising several SNPs per relevant candidate gene as exploratory variables further exhibited no prediction of outcome. Our findings corroborate conclusions from previous literature about the limitations of candidate gene approaches, even when based on firm biological hypotheses, in the domain of genetic research for neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Win Lee Edwin Wong
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan Arathimos
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cathryn M. Lewis
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Allan H. Young
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin S. Dawe
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Life Sciences Institute, Neurobiology Programme, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Tobore TO. On the beauty of sadness: it's okay to say, I am sad, thank you. Commun Integr Biol 2023; 16:2211424. [PMID: 37197171 PMCID: PMC10184602 DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2023.2211424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
We live in times when our culture is obsessed with happiness. The value of almost every aspect of our lives is increasingly judged in terms of their contribution to our happiness. Happiness has become the ultimate goal by which values and priorities are constructed and the only thing for which any action in pursuit of does not require justification. In contrast, sadness is increasingly abnormalized and pathologized. In this paper, an effort is made to counteract the narrative that sadness, a critical aspect of human life is abnormal or a pathological condition. The evolutionary benefits of sadness and its place in human flourishing are discussed. A rebranding of sadness is proposed that emphasizes the free expression of sadness in everyday greetings to remove it from its current negative state and promote many of its benefits including post-traumatic growth and resilience.
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de Vries LP, van de Weijer MP, Bartels M. The human physiology of well-being: A systematic review on the association between neurotransmitters, hormones, inflammatory markers, the microbiome and well-being. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 139:104733. [PMID: 35697161 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
To understand the pathways through which well-being contributes to health, we performed a systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines on the association between well-being and physiological markers in four categories, neurotransmitters, hormones, inflammatory markers, and microbiome. We identified 91 studies. Neurotransmitter studies (knumber of studies=9) reported only a possible positive association between serotonin and well-being. For the hormone studies (k = 48), a lower momentary cortisol level was related to higher well-being (meta-analytic r = -0.06), and a steeper diurnal slope of cortisol levels. Inflammatory marker studies (k = 36) reported negative or non-significant relations with well-being, with meta-analytic estimates of respectively r = -0.07 and r = -0.05 for C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. Microbiome studies (k = 4) reported inconsistent associations between different bacteria abundance and well-being. The results indicate possible but small roles of serotonin, cortisol, and inflammatory markers in explaining differences in well-being. The inconsistent and limited results for other markers and microbiome require further research. Future directions for a complete picture of the physiological factors underlying well-being are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne P de Vries
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Margot P van de Weijer
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Meike Bartels
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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