Evidence for interplay between genes and parenting on infant temperament in the first year of life: monoamine oxidase A polymorphism moderates effects of maternal sensitivity on infant anger proneness

Andrew Pickles, Jonathan Hill*, Gerome Breen, John Quinn, Kate Abbott, Helen Jones, Helen Sharp

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background
The low expression polymorphism of the MAOA gene in interaction with adverse environments (G × E) is associated with antisocial behaviour disorders. These have their origins in early life, but it is not known whether MAOA G × E occurs in infants. We therefore examined whether MAOA G × E predicts infant anger proneness, a temperamental dimension associated with later antisocial behaviour disorders. In contrast to previous studies, we examined MAOA G × E prospectively using an observational measure of a key aspect of the infant environment, maternal sensitivity, at a specified developmental time point.

Methods
In a stratified epidemiological cohort recruited during pregnancy, we ascertained MAOA status (low vs. high expression alleles) from the saliva of 193 infants, and examined specific predictions to maternal report of infant temperament at 14 months from maternal sensitivity assessed at 29 weeks of age.

Results
Analyses, weighted to provide general population estimates, indicated a robust interaction between MAOA status and maternal sensitivity in the prediction of infant anger proneness (p = .003) which became stronger once possible confounders for maternal sensitivity were included in the model (p = .0001). The interaction terms were similar in males (p = .010) and females (p = .016), but the effects were different as a consequence of an additional sex of infant by maternal sensitivity interaction.

Conclusions
This prospective study provides the first evidence of moderation by the MAOA gene of effects of parenting on infant anger proneness, an important early risk for the development of disruptive and aggressive behaviour disorders.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1308-1317
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Volume54
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2013

Keywords

  • Monoamine oxidase A
  • promoter polymorphism
  • maternal sensitivity
  • infant temperament
  • anger proneness gene by environment interaction
  • ANTISOCIAL-BEHAVIOR
  • DIFFERENTIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY
  • PERSONALITY-DISORDER
  • REARING EXPERIENCE
  • MENTAL-HEALTH
  • CHILD-CARE
  • MAOA
  • MALTREATMENT
  • GENOTYPE
  • ABUSE

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Evidence for interplay between genes and parenting on infant temperament in the first year of life: monoamine oxidase A polymorphism moderates effects of maternal sensitivity on infant anger proneness'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this