TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - Examining the link between emotional childhood abuse and social relationships in midlife: the moderating role of the oxytocin receptor gene
JO  - Child abuse and neglect
A1  - Ebbert, Ashley M.
A1  - Infurna, Frank J.
A1  - Luthar, Suniya S.
A1  - Lemery-Chalfant, Kathryn
A1  - Corbin, William R.
SP  - 104151
EP  - 104151
VL  - 98
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs53576, of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) has been associated with fundamental aspects of social processes and behaviors. Compared to A carriers, GG individuals have enhanced social competencies and tend to elicit more positive responses from social partners. However, the G allele of the OXTR rs53576 has also been associated with greater social sensitivity. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the unique influence of emotional childhood abuse on positive and negative aspects of different types of social relationships (e.g., family, spouse/partner, and friends) in midlife and whether genetic variations of OXTR rs53576 moderated these associations. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: A total of 614 participants in midlife (aged 40-65), recruited for a large-scale study of Phoenix metropolitan residents (AS U Live Project), answered self-report questionnaires and provided blood samples for DNA genotyping. <br><br>METHODS: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses tested whether emotional childhood abuse predicted social support and strain for each relationship type and whether these potential linkages differed by OXTR genotype (GG versus AA/AG). <br><br>RESULTS: Overall, individuals with a history of emotional childhood abuse had less supportive and more strained relationships in midlife. For supportive family relationships, the effect of emotional childhood abuse was moderated by OXTR rs53576 (p < .001). Under conditions of experiencing more emotional abuse in childhood, GG individuals had more supportive family relationships in midlife compared to A carriers. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Overall, genetic variations of OXTR rs53576 may be an important candidate in understanding the development of social functioning within the context of emotional childhood abuse.<br><br>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0145-2134
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104151
ID  - ref1
ER  -