Premium
A SNP , Gene, and Polygenic Risk Score Approach of Oxytocin‐Vasopressin Genes in Adolescents’ Loneliness
Author(s) -
Verhagen Maaike,
Verweij Karin J. H.,
Lodder Gerine M. A.,
Goossens Luc,
Verschueren Karine,
Van Leeuwen Karla,
Van den Noortgate Wim,
Claes Stephan,
Bijttebier Patricia,
Van Assche Evelien,
Vink Jaqueline M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of research on adolescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.342
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1532-7795
pISSN - 1050-8392
DOI - 10.1111/jora.12480
Subject(s) - loneliness , oxytocin receptor , psychology , endophenotype , snp , gene , oxytocin , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , genetics , single nucleotide polymorphism , biology , psychiatry , neuroscience , genotype , cognition
Not much is known regarding underlying biological pathways to adolescents’ loneliness. Insight in underlying molecular mechanisms could inform intervention efforts aimed at reducing loneliness. Using latent growth curve modeling, baseline levels and development of loneliness were studied in two longitudinal adolescent samples. Genes ( OXTR , OXT , AVPR 1A , AVPR 1B ) were examined using SNP ‐based, gene‐based, and polygenic risk score ( PRS ) approaches. In both samples, SNP ‐ and gene‐based tests showed involvement of the OXTR gene in development of loneliness, though, significance levels did not survive correction for multiple testing. The PRS approach provided no evidence for relations with loneliness. We recommend alternative phenotyping methods, including environmental factors, to consider epigenetic studies, and to examine possible endophenotypes in relation to adolescents’ loneliness.