Contribution of genes and environment to the longitudinal association between childhood impulsive-aggression and suicidality in adolescence / Massimiliano ORRI in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61-6 (June 2020)  

Public ISBD [article]  inJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry > 61-6 (June 2020) . - p.711-720 Titre : Contribution of genes and environment to the longitudinal association between childhood impulsive-aggression and suicidality in adolescence Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Massimiliano ORRI, Auteur ; Marie-Claude GEOFFROY, Auteur ; Gustavo TURECKI, Auteur ; Bei FENG, Auteur ; Mara BRENDGEN, Auteur ; Frank VITARO, Auteur ; Ginette DIONNE, Auteur ; Stéphane PAQUIN, Auteur ; Cédric GALERA, Auteur ; Johanne RENAUD, Auteur ; Richard E. TREMBLAY, Auteur ; Sylvana M. CÔTÉ, Auteur ; Michel BOIVIN, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.711-720 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Suicide attempt  behavioral genetics  impulsive-aggression  longitudinal  suicidal ideation  twin study Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Population-based and family studies showed that impulsive-aggression predicts suicidality; however, the underlying etiological nature of this association is poorly understood. The objective was to determine the contribution of genes and environment to the association between childhood impulsive-aggression and serious suicidal ideation/attempt in young adulthood. METHODS: N = 862 twins (435 families) from the Quebec Newborn Twin Study were followed up from birth to 20 years. Repeated measures of teacher-assessed impulsive-aggression were modeled using a genetically informed latent growth model including intercept and slope parameters reflecting individual differences in the baseline level (age 6 years) and in the change (increase/decrease) of impulsive-aggression during childhood (6 to 12 years), respectively. Lifetime suicidality (serious suicidal ideation/attempt) was self-reported at 20 years. Associations of impulsive-aggression intercept and slope with suicidality were decomposed into additive genetic (A) and unique environmental (E) components. RESULTS: Additive genetic factors accounted for an important part of individual differences in impulsive-aggression intercept (A = 90%, E = 10%) and slope (A = 65%, E = 35%). Genetic (50%) and unique environmental (50%) factors equally contributed to suicidality. We found that 38% of the genetic factors accounting for suicidality were shared with those underlying impulsive-aggression slope, whereas 40% of the environmental factors accounting for suicidality were shared with those associated with impulsive-aggression intercept. The genetic correlation between impulsive-aggression slope and suicidality was 0.60, p = .027. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic and unique environmental factors underlying suicidality significantly overlap with those underlying childhood impulsive-aggression. Future studies should identify putative genetic and environmental factors to inform prevention. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13163 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=426 [article] Contribution of genes and environment to the longitudinal association between childhood impulsive-aggression and suicidality in adolescence [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Massimiliano ORRI, Auteur ; Marie-Claude GEOFFROY, Auteur ; Gustavo TURECKI, Auteur ; Bei FENG, Auteur ; Mara BRENDGEN, Auteur ; Frank VITARO, Auteur ; Ginette DIONNE, Auteur ; Stéphane PAQUIN, Auteur ; Cédric GALERA, Auteur ; Johanne RENAUD, Auteur ; Richard E. TREMBLAY, Auteur ; Sylvana M. CÔTÉ, Auteur ; Michel BOIVIN, Auteur . - p.711-720. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry > 61-6 (June 2020) . - p.711-720 Mots-clés : Suicide attempt  behavioral genetics  impulsive-aggression  longitudinal  suicidal ideation  twin study Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Population-based and family studies showed that impulsive-aggression predicts suicidality; however, the underlying etiological nature of this association is poorly understood. The objective was to determine the contribution of genes and environment to the association between childhood impulsive-aggression and serious suicidal ideation/attempt in young adulthood. METHODS: N = 862 twins (435 families) from the Quebec Newborn Twin Study were followed up from birth to 20 years. Repeated measures of teacher-assessed impulsive-aggression were modeled using a genetically informed latent growth model including intercept and slope parameters reflecting individual differences in the baseline level (age 6 years) and in the change (increase/decrease) of impulsive-aggression during childhood (6 to 12 years), respectively. Lifetime suicidality (serious suicidal ideation/attempt) was self-reported at 20 years. Associations of impulsive-aggression intercept and slope with suicidality were decomposed into additive genetic (A) and unique environmental (E) components. RESULTS: Additive genetic factors accounted for an important part of individual differences in impulsive-aggression intercept (A = 90%, E = 10%) and slope (A = 65%, E = 35%). Genetic (50%) and unique environmental (50%) factors equally contributed to suicidality. We found that 38% of the genetic factors accounting for suicidality were shared with those underlying impulsive-aggression slope, whereas 40% of the environmental factors accounting for suicidality were shared with those associated with impulsive-aggression intercept. The genetic correlation between impulsive-aggression slope and suicidality was 0.60, p = .027. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic and unique environmental factors underlying suicidality significantly overlap with those underlying childhood impulsive-aggression. Future studies should identify putative genetic and environmental factors to inform prevention. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13163 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=426

Cybervictimization in adolescence and its association with subsequent suicidal ideation/attempt beyond face-to-face victimization: a longitudinal population-based study / Léa C. PERRET in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61-8 (August 2020)  

Public ISBD [article]  inJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry > 61-8 (August 2020) . - p.866-874 Titre : Cybervictimization in adolescence and its association with subsequent suicidal ideation/attempt beyond face-to-face victimization: a longitudinal population-based study Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Léa C. PERRET, Auteur ; Massimiliano ORRI, Auteur ; Michel BOIVIN, Auteur ; Isabelle OUELLET-MORIN, Auteur ; Anne-Sophie DENAULT, Auteur ; Sylvana M. CÔTÉ, Auteur ; Richard E. TREMBLAY, Auteur ; Johanne RENAUD, Auteur ; Gustavo TURECKI, Auteur ; Marie-Claude GEOFFROY, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.866-874 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Adolescence  Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development  longitudinal cohort  suicidal ideation  suicide attempt Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional associations have been documented between cybervictimization and suicidal risk; however, prospective associations remain unclear. METHODS: Participants were members of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD), a prospective birth cohort of 2,120 individuals followed from birth (1997/98) to age 17 years (2014/15). Cybervictimization and face-to-face victimization experienced since the beginning of the school year, as well as serious suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempt were self-reported at ages 13, 15 and 17 years. RESULTS: In cross-sectional analyses at 13, 15 and 17 years, adolescents cybervictimized at least once had, respectively, 2.3 (95% CI = 1.64-3.19), 4.2 (95% CI = 3.27-5.41) and 3.5 (95% CI = 2.57-4.66) higher odds of suicidal ideation/attempt after adjusting for confounders including face-to-face victimization, prior mental health symptoms and family hardship. Sensitivity analyses suggested that cybervictimization only and both cyber- and face-to-face victimization were associated with a higher risk of suicidal ideation/attempt compared to face-to-face victimization only and no victimization; however, analyses were based on small n. In prospective analyses, cybervictimization was not associated with suicidal ideation/attempt 2 years later after accounting for baseline suicidal ideation/attempt and other confounders. In contrast, face-to-face victimization was associated with suicidal ideation/attempt 2 years later in the fully adjusted model, including cybervictimization. CONCLUSIONS: The cross-sectional association between cybervictimization and suicidal ideation/attempt is independent from face-to-face victimization. The absence of a prospective association suggested short-term effects of cybervictimization on suicidal ideation/attempt. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13158 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=429 [article] Cybervictimization in adolescence and its association with subsequent suicidal ideation/attempt beyond face-to-face victimization: a longitudinal population-based study [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Léa C. PERRET, Auteur ; Massimiliano ORRI, Auteur ; Michel BOIVIN, Auteur ; Isabelle OUELLET-MORIN, Auteur ; Anne-Sophie DENAULT, Auteur ; Sylvana M. CÔTÉ, Auteur ; Richard E. TREMBLAY, Auteur ; Johanne RENAUD, Auteur ; Gustavo TURECKI, Auteur ; Marie-Claude GEOFFROY, Auteur . - p.866-874. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry > 61-8 (August 2020) . - p.866-874 Mots-clés : Adolescence  Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development  longitudinal cohort  suicidal ideation  suicide attempt Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional associations have been documented between cybervictimization and suicidal risk; however, prospective associations remain unclear. METHODS: Participants were members of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD), a prospective birth cohort of 2,120 individuals followed from birth (1997/98) to age 17 years (2014/15). Cybervictimization and face-to-face victimization experienced since the beginning of the school year, as well as serious suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempt were self-reported at ages 13, 15 and 17 years. RESULTS: In cross-sectional analyses at 13, 15 and 17 years, adolescents cybervictimized at least once had, respectively, 2.3 (95% CI = 1.64-3.19), 4.2 (95% CI = 3.27-5.41) and 3.5 (95% CI = 2.57-4.66) higher odds of suicidal ideation/attempt after adjusting for confounders including face-to-face victimization, prior mental health symptoms and family hardship. Sensitivity analyses suggested that cybervictimization only and both cyber- and face-to-face victimization were associated with a higher risk of suicidal ideation/attempt compared to face-to-face victimization only and no victimization; however, analyses were based on small n. In prospective analyses, cybervictimization was not associated with suicidal ideation/attempt 2 years later after accounting for baseline suicidal ideation/attempt and other confounders. In contrast, face-to-face victimization was associated with suicidal ideation/attempt 2 years later in the fully adjusted model, including cybervictimization. CONCLUSIONS: The cross-sectional association between cybervictimization and suicidal ideation/attempt is independent from face-to-face victimization. The absence of a prospective association suggested short-term effects of cybervictimization on suicidal ideation/attempt. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13158 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=429

Methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor promoter in children: Links with parents as teachers, early life stress, and behavior problems / Elena Silvia GARDINI in Development and Psychopathology, 34-3 (August 2022)  

Public ISBD [article]  inDevelopment and Psychopathology > 34-3 (August 2022) . - p.810-822 Titre : Methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor promoter in children: Links with parents as teachers, early life stress, and behavior problems Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Elena Silvia GARDINI, Auteur ; Simone SCHAUB, Auteur ; Alex NEUHAUSER, Auteur ; Erich RAMSEIER, Auteur ; Arna VILLIGER, Auteur ; Ulrike EHLERT, Auteur ; Andrea LANFRANCHI, Auteur ; Gustavo TURECKI, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.810-822 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : child behavior problems  early life stress  NR3C1 methylation  Parents as Teachers  social interventions Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : The present study examined the effect of early life stress (ELS) on the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) methylation, the associations between NR3C1 methylation and behavior problems, and the effect of the program Parents as Teachers (PAT) on NR3C1 methylation. Participants included 132 children, 72 assigned to the PAT intervention group and 60 to the PAT control group. Children were aged 3 years, and were living in psychosocially at-risk families. We assessed NR3C1 methylation of the NGFI-A binding regions of exon 1F via sodium bisulfite sequencing from saliva DNA. Results indicated that (a) children living in families receiving PAT had decreased methylation at one single cytosine “guanine dinucleotides (CpG) site; (b) current maternal depressive symptoms and parental disagreement were predictive of increased methylation of mean NGFI-A and three single CpG sites; and (c) increased methylation of mean NGFI-A and one single CpG site was significantly associated with increased internalizing and externalizing symptoms. In addition, mean NGFI-A was a mediator of the association between parental disagreement and a child's affective problems. These results suggest that PAT may contribute to preventing NR3C1 methylation in preschool children living in psychosocially at-risk situations, and confirm previous findings on the associations between ELS, NR3C1 methylation, and behavior problems. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0954579420001984 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=484 [article] Methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor promoter in children: Links with parents as teachers, early life stress, and behavior problems [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Elena Silvia GARDINI, Auteur ; Simone SCHAUB, Auteur ; Alex NEUHAUSER, Auteur ; Erich RAMSEIER, Auteur ; Arna VILLIGER, Auteur ; Ulrike EHLERT, Auteur ; Andrea LANFRANCHI, Auteur ; Gustavo TURECKI, Auteur . - p.810-822. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Development and Psychopathology > 34-3 (August 2022) . - p.810-822 Mots-clés : child behavior problems  early life stress  NR3C1 methylation  Parents as Teachers  social interventions Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : The present study examined the effect of early life stress (ELS) on the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) methylation, the associations between NR3C1 methylation and behavior problems, and the effect of the program Parents as Teachers (PAT) on NR3C1 methylation. Participants included 132 children, 72 assigned to the PAT intervention group and 60 to the PAT control group. Children were aged 3 years, and were living in psychosocially at-risk families. We assessed NR3C1 methylation of the NGFI-A binding regions of exon 1F via sodium bisulfite sequencing from saliva DNA. Results indicated that (a) children living in families receiving PAT had decreased methylation at one single cytosine “guanine dinucleotides (CpG) site; (b) current maternal depressive symptoms and parental disagreement were predictive of increased methylation of mean NGFI-A and three single CpG sites; and (c) increased methylation of mean NGFI-A and one single CpG site was significantly associated with increased internalizing and externalizing symptoms. In addition, mean NGFI-A was a mediator of the association between parental disagreement and a child's affective problems. These results suggest that PAT may contribute to preventing NR3C1 methylation in preschool children living in psychosocially at-risk situations, and confirm previous findings on the associations between ELS, NR3C1 methylation, and behavior problems. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0954579420001984 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=484

Polygenic risk score and peer victimisation independently predict depressive symptoms in adolescence: results from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Children Development / Léa C. PERRET in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 64-3 (March 2023)  

Public ISBD [article]  inJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry > 64-3 (March 2023) . - p.388-396 Titre : Polygenic risk score and peer victimisation independently predict depressive symptoms in adolescence: results from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Children Development Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Léa C. PERRET, Auteur ; Michel BOIVIN, Auteur ; Geneviève MORNEAU-VAILLANCOURT, Auteur ; Till F. M. ANDLAUER, Auteur ; Stéphane PAQUIN, Auteur ; Stéphanie LANGEVIN, Auteur ; Alain GIRARD, Auteur ; Gustavo TURECKI, Auteur ; Kieran J. O'DONNELL, Auteur ; Richard E. TREMBLAY, Auteur ; Sylvana M. CÔTÉ, Auteur ; Jean-Philippe GOUIN, Auteur ; Isabelle OUELLET-MORIN, Auteur ; Marie-Claude GEOFFROY, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.388-396 Langues : Anglais (eng) Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Background Peer victimisation has been associated with depressive symptoms during adolescence, however not all peer victimised adolescents will exhibit such symptoms. This study tested whether having a genetic predisposition to developing depression increased the risk of experiencing depressive symptoms in peer victimised youth. To date, no study has explored such gene-environment interaction using a polygenic risk score for depression (PRS-depression) in the context of peer victimisation and depressive symptoms in adolescence. Methods The sample included 748 participants born in 1997/98 from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development with genotype data and prospectively collected information on peer victimisation (12-13 years) obtained from both self- and teacher-reports, as well as self-reported depressive symptoms (15-17 years). The PRS-depression was based on the genome-wide association meta-analysis of broad depression by Howard et al. (2019). Results Self- and teacher-reported peer victimisation in early adolescence were both associated with depressive symptoms in adolescence (Î2=0.34, p < .001; Î2=0.14, p=.001 respectively), and this association remained significant when accounting for PRS-depression (Î2=0.33, p < .001; Î2=0.13, p=.002 respectively). PRS-depression was independently associated with depressive symptoms, but there was no significant PRS-depression by peer victimisation interaction (self-reported and teacher-reported). PRS-depression was correlated with self-reported, but not teacher-reported, peer victimisation. Conclusions Our findings suggested that a partial measure of an individual's genetic predisposition to depression, as measured by PRS-depression, and being exposed to peer victimisation (self- and teacher-reported) were independently associated with depressive symptoms in adolescence. Furthermore, PRS-depression did not exacerbate the risk of depressive symptoms among adolescents who had been peer victimised. Lastly, we found evidence of a gene-environment correlation between PRS-depression and self-reported peer victimisation. Future studies are needed to replicate this finding and to further understand the role of genetic predispositions in experiencing depressive symptoms following peer victimisation. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13706 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=493 [article] Polygenic risk score and peer victimisation independently predict depressive symptoms in adolescence: results from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Children Development [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Léa C. PERRET, Auteur ; Michel BOIVIN, Auteur ; Geneviève MORNEAU-VAILLANCOURT, Auteur ; Till F. M. ANDLAUER, Auteur ; Stéphane PAQUIN, Auteur ; Stéphanie LANGEVIN, Auteur ; Alain GIRARD, Auteur ; Gustavo TURECKI, Auteur ; Kieran J. O'DONNELL, Auteur ; Richard E. TREMBLAY, Auteur ; Sylvana M. CÔTÉ, Auteur ; Jean-Philippe GOUIN, Auteur ; Isabelle OUELLET-MORIN, Auteur ; Marie-Claude GEOFFROY, Auteur . - p.388-396. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry > 64-3 (March 2023) . - p.388-396 Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Background Peer victimisation has been associated with depressive symptoms during adolescence, however not all peer victimised adolescents will exhibit such symptoms. This study tested whether having a genetic predisposition to developing depression increased the risk of experiencing depressive symptoms in peer victimised youth. To date, no study has explored such gene-environment interaction using a polygenic risk score for depression (PRS-depression) in the context of peer victimisation and depressive symptoms in adolescence. Methods The sample included 748 participants born in 1997/98 from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development with genotype data and prospectively collected information on peer victimisation (12-13 years) obtained from both self- and teacher-reports, as well as self-reported depressive symptoms (15-17 years). The PRS-depression was based on the genome-wide association meta-analysis of broad depression by Howard et al. (2019). Results Self- and teacher-reported peer victimisation in early adolescence were both associated with depressive symptoms in adolescence (Î2=0.34, p < .001; Î2=0.14, p=.001 respectively), and this association remained significant when accounting for PRS-depression (Î2=0.33, p < .001; Î2=0.13, p=.002 respectively). PRS-depression was independently associated with depressive symptoms, but there was no significant PRS-depression by peer victimisation interaction (self-reported and teacher-reported). PRS-depression was correlated with self-reported, but not teacher-reported, peer victimisation. Conclusions Our findings suggested that a partial measure of an individual's genetic predisposition to depression, as measured by PRS-depression, and being exposed to peer victimisation (self- and teacher-reported) were independently associated with depressive symptoms in adolescence. Furthermore, PRS-depression did not exacerbate the risk of depressive symptoms among adolescents who had been peer victimised. Lastly, we found evidence of a gene-environment correlation between PRS-depression and self-reported peer victimisation. Future studies are needed to replicate this finding and to further understand the role of genetic predispositions in experiencing depressive symptoms following peer victimisation. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13706 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=493

The interaction between oxytocin receptor gene methylation and maternal behavior on children's early theory of mind abilities / Anna L. MACKINNON in Development and Psychopathology, 32-2 (May 2020)  

Public ISBD [article]  inDevelopment and Psychopathology > 32-2 (May 2020) . - p.511-519 Titre : The interaction between oxytocin receptor gene methylation and maternal behavior on children's early theory of mind abilities Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Anna L. MACKINNON, Auteur ; Nancy FEELEY, Auteur ; Ian GOLD, Auteur ; Barbara HAYTON, Auteur ; Leonora KING, Auteur ; Corina NAGY, Auteur ; Stephanie ROBINS, Auteur ; Gustavo TURECKI, Auteur ; Phyllis ZELKOWITZ, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.511-519 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : OXTR gene  maternal behavior  methylation  oxytocin  theory of mind Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Theory of mind, the ability to represent the mental states of others, is an important social cognitive process, which contributes to the development of social competence. Recent research suggests that interactions between gene and environmental factors, such as oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) polymorphisms and maternal parenting behavior, may underlie individual differences in children's theory of mind. However, the potential influence of DNA methylation of OXTR remains unclear. The current study investigated the roles of OXTR methylation, maternal behavior, and their statistical interaction on toddlers' early emerging theory of mind abilities. Participants included a community sample of 189 dyads of mothers and their 2- to 3-year-old children, whose salivary DNA was analyzed. Results indicated that more maternal structuring behavior was associated with better performance, on a battery of three theory of mind tasks, while higher OXTR methylation within exon 3 was associated with poorer performance. A significant interaction also emerged, such that OXTR methylation was related to theory of mind among children whose mothers displayed less structuring, when controlling for children's age, sex, ethnicity, number of child-aged siblings, verbal ability, and maternal education. Maternal structuring behavior may buffer the potential negative impact of hypermethylation on OXTR gene expression and function. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954579419000257 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=426 [article] The interaction between oxytocin receptor gene methylation and maternal behavior on children's early theory of mind abilities [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Anna L. MACKINNON, Auteur ; Nancy FEELEY, Auteur ; Ian GOLD, Auteur ; Barbara HAYTON, Auteur ; Leonora KING, Auteur ; Corina NAGY, Auteur ; Stephanie ROBINS, Auteur ; Gustavo TURECKI, Auteur ; Phyllis ZELKOWITZ, Auteur . - p.511-519. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Development and Psychopathology > 32-2 (May 2020) . - p.511-519 Mots-clés : OXTR gene  maternal behavior  methylation  oxytocin  theory of mind Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Theory of mind, the ability to represent the mental states of others, is an important social cognitive process, which contributes to the development of social competence. Recent research suggests that interactions between gene and environmental factors, such as oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) polymorphisms and maternal parenting behavior, may underlie individual differences in children's theory of mind. However, the potential influence of DNA methylation of OXTR remains unclear. The current study investigated the roles of OXTR methylation, maternal behavior, and their statistical interaction on toddlers' early emerging theory of mind abilities. Participants included a community sample of 189 dyads of mothers and their 2- to 3-year-old children, whose salivary DNA was analyzed. Results indicated that more maternal structuring behavior was associated with better performance, on a battery of three theory of mind tasks, while higher OXTR methylation within exon 3 was associated with poorer performance. A significant interaction also emerged, such that OXTR methylation was related to theory of mind among children whose mothers displayed less structuring, when controlling for children's age, sex, ethnicity, number of child-aged siblings, verbal ability, and maternal education. Maternal structuring behavior may buffer the potential negative impact of hypermethylation on OXTR gene expression and function. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954579419000257 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=426

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