Culture, distress, and oxytocin receptor polymorphism (OXTR) interact to influence emotional support seeking

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that certain genotypes are expressed in different forms, depending on input from the social environment. To examine sensitivity to cultural norms regarding emotional support seeking as a type of social environment, we explored the behavioral expression of oxytocin receptor polymorphism (OXTR) rs53576, a gene previously related to socio-emotional sensitivity. Seeking emotional support in times of distress is normative in American culture but not in Korean culture. Consequently, we predicted a three-way interaction of culture, distress, and OXTR genotype on emotional support seeking. Korean and American participants (n = 274) completed assessments of psychological distress and emotional support seeking and were genotyped for OXTR. We found the predicted three-way interaction: among distressed American participants, those with the GG/AG genotypes reported seeking more emotional social support, compared with those with the AA genotype, whereas Korean participants did not differ significantly by genotype; under conditions of low distress, OXTR groups did not differ significantly in either cultural group. These findings suggest that OXTR rs53576 is sensitive to input from the social environment, specifically cultural norms regarding emotional social support seeking. These findings also indicate that psychological distress and culture are important moderators that shape behavioral outcomes associated with OXTR genotypes.genetics | social support | psychological distress | stress coping | gene-by-culture interaction

Hormonal contraceptives suppress oxytocin-induced brain reward responses to the partner’s face

“…We speculate that the OXTinduced increase in prefrontal cortex activity may also reflect social support seeking (Sherman et al, 2009). Interestingly, an OXTR polymorphism has been linked to social support seeking, but the direction of this effect was dependent on cultural norms (Kim et al, 2010). Likewise, the interaction between OXT and gonadal steroids could cause increased or decreased OXT effects depending on the social domain.…”

Association of Genetic Variation in the Promoter Region of OXTR with Differences in Social Affective Neural Processing

“…Another consideration neglected in this study is the sensitivity of the oxytocinergic system to environmental factors. Studies indicates that maternal caregiving in animals [57] and cultural differences in humans [58] modulate the impact of OXTR variation on social behaviour. Lastly, association with risk for ASC needs to be investigated to support claims of this SNP's involvement in the psychopathological deficits exhibited in persons with the disorder.…”

Helping hands, healthy body? Oxytocin receptor gene and prosocial behavior interact to buffer the association between stress and physical health

“…As prior research has identified inter-ethnic differences in OXTR rs53576, with greater proportions of GG individuals among Caucasians (Kim et al, 2010), a follow-up analysis tested a three-way interaction among genotype, stress, and ethnicity (European-American versus other). This interaction was not significant (p = .20), indicating no ethnic differences in the stress-buffering role of OXTR rs53576; moreover, the magnitude of the OXTR GG × stress interaction was very similar between Caucasians (IRR = 0.91) and those of other ethnic groups (IRR = 0.87).…”