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The interaction of 5‐HTT variation, recent stress, and resilience on current anxiety levels in adolescents and young adults from the general population
Author(s) -
Ollmann Theresa M.,
Voss Catharina,
Venz John,
Seidl Esther,
Hoyer Jana,
Kische Hanna,
Pieper Lars,
Schiele Miriam A.,
Domschke Katharina,
BeesdoBaum Katja
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.23101
Subject(s) - stressor , anxiety , 5 httlpr , psychology , distress , clinical psychology , psychological resilience , population , chronic stress , perceived stress scale , psychological intervention , developmental psychology , psychiatry , stress (linguistics) , medicine , environmental health , psychotherapist , linguistics , philosophy , receptor , neuroscience , serotonin transporter , serotonin
Background Previous work on gene‐environment (GxE) interplay concerning anxiety has focused on the interaction of 5‐HTT LPR with childhood adversities or traumatic events whereas the impact of recent stressors is understudied, as is the integration of resilience. The current study aimed to investigate the interactive effect of 5‐HTT LPR and recent stress on anxiety in adolescents considering resilience as buffer of a GxE risk constellation. Method In a random population‐based sample of 14–21 years old from Dresden, Germany, ( N = 1180; genotyped = 942) recent stress (Daily Hassles [DH] Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Screening Scale of the Trier Inventory for the Assessment of Chronic Stress), resilience (Connor–Davidson resilience scale) and anxiety (Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Anxiety Short Form) were assessed via questionnaire in 2015 or 2016. Results Fractional regression models revealed that resilience interacted with recent stress in form of DH as well as recent chronic stress and 5‐HTT LPR regarding anxiety. Participants carrying the more active L A L A genotype reported consistently higher levels of anxiety when experiencing more DH or more recent chronic stress and having low levels of resilience. When the resilience scores were high, L A L A carriers reported the lowest anxiety scores despite DH or recent chronic stress. Conclusion Findings revealed an interactive relationship between 5‐ HTT LPR genotype and recent stress suggesting resilience to function as an additional dimension buffering the impact of a GxE risk constellation. Early interventions to build resilience may be useful to prevent an escalation of distress and associated unfavorable health outcomes.