Evidence for interplay between genes and parenting on infant temperament in the first year of life: monoamine oxidase A polymorphism moderates effects of maternal sensitivity on infant anger proneness

Abstract

Background:The low expression polymorphism of the MAOA gene in interaction with adverse environments (G 9 E) is associated with antisocial behaviour disorders. These have their origins in early life, but it is not known whether MAOA G 9 E occurs in infants. We therefore examined whether MAOA G 9 E predicts infant anger proneness, a temperamental dimension associated with later antisocial behaviour disorders. In contrast to previous studies, we examined MAOA G 9 E prospectively using an observational measure of a key aspect of the infant environment, maternal sensitivity, at a specified developmental time point. Methods: In a stratified epidemiological cohort recruited during pregnancy, we ascertained MAOA status (low vs. high expression alleles) from the saliva of 193 infants, and examined specific predictions to maternal report of infant temperament at 14 months from maternal sensitivity assessed at 29 weeks of age. Results: Analyses, weighted to provide general population estimates, indicated a robust interaction between MAOA status and maternal sensitivity in the prediction of infant anger proneness (p = .003) which became stronger once possible confounders for maternal sensitivity were included in the model (p = .0001). The interaction terms were similar in males (p = .010) and females (p = .016), but the effects were different as a consequence of an additional sex of infant by maternal sensitivity interaction. Conclusions: This prospective study provides the first evidence of moderation by the MAOA gene of effects of parenting on infant anger proneness, an important early risk for the development of disruptive and aggressive behaviour disorders. Keywords: Monoamine oxidase A, promoter polymorphism, maternal sensitivity, infant temperament, anger proneness, gene by environment interaction.

MAOA Influences the Trajectory of Attentional Development

“…We gain confidence in our finding because it is consistent with previous longitudinal studies showing an association between MAOA and negative outcomes that could have a cognitive component (Edwards et al, 2010; Enoch et al, 2010; Belsky and Beaver, 2011; Daw and Guo, 2011; Fergusson et al, 2011; Lee, 2011; Hill et al, 2013; Pickles et al, 2013; Priess-Groben and Hyde, 2013; Haberstick et al, 2014; Whelan et al, 2014). Such findings establish heterotypic continuity (Putnam et al, 2008; Miller et al, 2009; Lavigne et al, 2014) between the infant reflexive attention task and later child behavior.…”

Association of low-activity MAOA allelic variants with violent crime in incarcerated offenders

“…These findings are in line with previous studies, which failed to identify an influence of MAOA-uVNTR genotype on BPAQ scores (Hurd et al 2011). Although previous evidence has documented an association between L-MAOA alleles and high indices of antisocial personality, including anger and hostility (Yang et al 2007; McDermott et al 2009; Williams et al 2009), ample evidence has shown that L-MAOA alleles do not confer an inherent predisposition to aggression (Fowler et al 2007), but their influence on this trait is likely mediated by interactions with early exposure to traumatic experiences (Caspi et al 2002; Kim-Cohen et al 2006; Williams et al 2009; Fergusson et al 2011) and/or other concurrent risk factors (Beaver et al 2011), including parenting style (Pickles et al 2013). …”

Ingredients for Criminality Require Genes, Temperament, and Psychopathic Personality

“…Drawing on data from the Wirral Child Health and Development Study, which is a prospective epidemiological longitudinal study of prenatal and infant origins of conduct problems, Pickles et al (2013) found that lower maternal sensitivity was associated with greater infant anger. But the effect was only present among infants with the low expression MAOA variant-the same low activity variant that is implicated in antisocial behavior in the presence of early life maltreatment.…”