Oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism, perceived social support, and psychological symptoms in maltreated adolescents.

ABSTRACT: Despite the detrimental consequences of child maltreatment on developmental processes, some individuals show remarkable resilience, with few signs of psychopathology, while others succumb to dysfunction. Given that oxytocin has been shown to be involved in social affiliation, attachment, social support, trust, empathy, and other social or reproductive behaviors, we chose to examine the possible moderation of maltreatment effects on perceived social support and on psychological symptoms by a common single nucleotide polymorphism (rs53576) in the oxytocin receptor gene. We studied adolescents (N = 425) aged approximately 13-15, including participants with objectively documented maltreatment histories (N = 263) and a nonmaltreated comparison group from a comparable low socioeconomic status ba

SUBMITTER: Hostinar CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4141414 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature