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Association of maternal dopamine transporter genotype with negative parenting: evidence for gene x environment interaction with child disruptive behavior

Molecular Psychiatry volume 15, pages 548–558 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Although maternal parenting is central to child development, little is known about the interplay between molecular genetic and environmental factors that influence parenting. We tested the association of the 40-bp variable number tandem repeat polymorphism of the dopamine transporter (DAT1; SLC6A3) gene with three dimensions of observed maternal parenting behavior (positive parenting, negative parenting and total maternal commands). A significant nonadditive association was found between maternal DAT1 genotype and both negative parenting and total commands during a structured mother–child interaction task, even after controlling demographic factors, maternal psychopathology and disruptive child behavior during the task. Furthermore, the association between maternal DAT1 genotype and negative parenting was significantly stronger among mothers whose children were highly disruptive during the mother–child interaction task, suggesting a gene–environment interaction.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant 2RO1 MH053554 to Benjamin B Lahey, T32 MH200065-01 to Elliot S Gershon and the Jean Young and Walden W Shaw Foundation to Edwin H Cook.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    S S Lee

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

    A Chronis-Tuscano

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    K Keenan & B B Lahey

  4. Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA

    W E Pelham

  5. Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    J Loney

  6. Department of Health Studies, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    C A Van Hulle & B B Lahey

  7. Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Juvenile Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    E H Cook

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Correspondence to S S Lee.

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Lee, S., Chronis-Tuscano, A., Keenan, K. et al. Association of maternal dopamine transporter genotype with negative parenting: evidence for gene x environment interaction with child disruptive behavior. Mol Psychiatry 15, 548–558 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2008.102

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