Oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism (rs53576) moderates the intergenerational transmission of depression

Abstract

Maternal depression serves as a potent source of stress among offspring, greatly enhancing the risk of numerous adverse outcomes including youth depression. Several factors moderate the transmission of depression from mothers to offspring. However, the role of genetic characteristics in this process merits further exploration. Consistent with an interpersonal perspective on depression, the present study focused on a genetic polymorphism that has been shown to be relevant to social functioning, the rs53576 polymorphism of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). In a community sample of 441 youth, OXTR genotype moderated the association between maternal depression in early childhood and youth depressive symptoms in adolescence, such that youth possessing at least one A allele of OXTR who also had a history of maternal depression exhibited the highest levels of depressive symptoms at age 15. In order to explore possible interpersonal mediators of this effect, conditional process analyses examined the role of youth social functioning in adolescence. Results suggest that OXTR genotype may partially account for the transmission of maternal depression to youth and support the role of dysfunctional social processes as a mechanism through which OXTR influences the development of depressive symptoms.

Keywords: Adolescents; Intergenerational transmission of depression; Maternal depression; OXTR; Oxytocin receptor gene; Social functioning.

Figure 1

Depressive symptoms at age 15 as a function of maternal depression history and OXTR genotype (adjusted by gender). Individuals carrying at least one A allele of the rs53576 polymorphism of OXTR who also have a history of maternal depression exhibit the highest levels of depressive symptoms at age 15. Error bars represent standard error. N = 441.

Figure 2

Conditional process model of the association between maternal depression history, OXTR genotype, social functioning, and depressive symptoms. OXTR genotype moderates the association between maternal depression in early childhood and youth depressive symptoms at age 15. This interaction is mediated by youth social functioning in the six months prior to age 15. Unstandardized regression coefficients (with standard errors) are presented. *p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001. N = 441.