Home Chaos and BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Interaction Influences Preschoolers’ Internalizing Symptoms

• In Event: Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Topic - Developmental Psychopathology

Abstract

Recent studies showed various gene-environment interactions influencing children’s behavioral problems. One important environmental factor in this context is home chaos that is reported to alter children’s self-regulation, emotional responses and mental health. Among genetic factors, previous research indicated the role of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism on children’s behavior and mental health, with some studies suggesting Val-allele carriers as being more susceptible to environmental influences. Considering these studies, we hypothesized that children’s internalizing behavior would be influenced by an interaction between home chaos and BDNF Val66Met genotype, such that Val-homozygotes would exhibit higher internalizing symptoms with higher home chaos compared to Met-carriers.

Participants were mother-child dyads (N = 345) recruited from preschools of 3 different municipalities in Istanbul, Turkey. Mothers (Mage = 34.6, SDage = 4.7) completed the “Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale” and “Child Behavior Checklist” for assessing home chaos and child internalizing symptoms, respectively. Preschoolers’ (%47 girls, Mage = 60.64 mo, SDage = 8.3 mo) BDNF Val66Met genotype was determined from salivary DNA and they were grouped as Val-homozygotes (n = 189) and Met-carriers (n = 78).

A multiple regression analysis showed that home chaos (p < .001), BDNF genotype (p = .051) and their interaction (p = .059) all predict internalizing problems in children, controlling for socioeconomic status. Internalizing symptoms were higher in children with the Met-allele (B = 8.073, SE = 4.125) and with higher home chaos (B = 3.13, SE = .869). Furthermore, higher home chaos was associated with higher internalizing symptoms only in Val-homozygote children (p < .001), but not in Met-carriers (p = .906). These results support previous study findings suggesting the differential susceptibility model with Val-homozygotes being more susceptible to the environment. In addition, they emphasize a vulnerability for Met-carriers independent of the environment. The study contributes to our understanding of gene-environment interactions underlying children’s internalizing symptoms that may in time guide prevention and intervention strategies towards developmental problems in children.

Authors

• Alev Ecevitoglu, Bogazici University
  Presenting Author

• Feyza Corapci, Boğaziçi Üniversitesi (BOUN)
  Non-Presenting Author

• Elif Aysimi Duman, Bogazici University
  Non-Presenting Author