Functional Polymorphisms in Oxytocin and Dopamine Pathway Genes and the Development of Dispositional Compassion Over Time: The Young Finns Study

Abstract

Background: We define compassion as an enduring disposition that centers upon empathetic concern for another person's suffering and the motivation to act to alleviate it. The contribution of specific candidate genes to the development of dispositional compassion for others is currently unknown. We examine candidate genes in the oxytocin and dopamine signaling pathways.Methods: In a 32-year follow-up of the Young Finns Study (N = 2,130, 44.0% men), we examined with multiple indicators latent growth curve modeling the molecular genetic underpinnings of dispositional compassion for others across the life span. We selected five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) whose functions are known in humans: rs2268498 (OXTR), rs3796863 (CD38) (related to lower oxytocin levels), rs1800497 (ANKK1/DRD2), rs4680 (COMT), and rs1611115 (DBH) (related to higher dopamine levels). Compassion was measured with Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory on three repeated observations spanning 15 years (1997–2012). Differences between gender were tested.Results: We did not find an effect of the five SNPs in oxytocin and dopamine pathway genes on the initial levels of dispositional compassion for others. Individuals who carry one or two copies of the T-allele of DBH rs1611115, however, tend to increase faster in compassion over time than those homozygotes for the C-allele, b = 0.063 (SE = 0.027; p = 0.018). This effect was largely driven by male participants, 0.206 (SE = 0.046; p < 0.001), and was not significant in female participants when analyzed separately.Conclusions: Men who are known to have, on average, lower compassion than women seem to reduce this difference over time if they carry the T-allele of DBH rs1611115. The direction of the association indicates that dopamine signaling activity rather than overall dopamine levels might drive the development of compassion.

Oxytocin Pathway Gene (CD38, OXTR) Variants Are Not Related to Psychosocial Characteristics Defined by Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in Adolescents: A Field School-Based Study

“…No link the CD38 rs3796863 variants with emotion perception in 120 patients with anorexia nervosa were found ( 31 ). Lastly, in the Young Finns Study, Dobewall et al did not find an effect of oxytocin pathway genes (including CD38 rs3796863) on the initial levels of dispositional compassion for others ( 48 ).…”

“…For reducing the chance of reporting false-positive/negative associations for our main group, we conducted our study in an unbiased school sample and previously calculated the required sample size. In many other similar studies with the null findings for rs3796863 and rs53576, the number of participants varies from 120 to 480 ( 31 , 37 , 45 , 48 , 64 , 65 ). In the present study, we enrolled 298 adolescents, which were sufficient for statistical power 0.8 for our main group and according to our design.…”

“…The SDQ allows assessing the psychosocial state of adolescents exclusively over the prior 6 months and does not reflect life-time problems; it might not be suitable for genetic studies. With regards to this issue is more reasonable to conduct a longitudinal study ( 48 ) which also significantly increases the statistical power.…”

Genetic differential susceptibility to the parent–child relationship quality and the life span development of compassion

“…This is in some conflict with previous studies that reported associations with related phenotypes such as empathy (Gong et al., 2017; Pearce et al., 2017), prosociality (Poulin & Holman, 2013; Reuter et al., 2011; Tost et al., 2010), and sensitive parenting (Feldman et al., 2012; Peltola et al., 2014; Skuse et al., 2014; Van IJzendoorn et al., 2008). One possible explanation could be that these socioemotional phenotypes may differ from compassion in their genetic underpinnings (Dobewall et al., 2021). Feldman and colleagues (2012) reported an association between plasma oxytocin levels and each of the polymorphisms included in the risk score used in the current study.…”

“…Also, compassion for others has been found to be influenced by environmental factors, one has experienced during childhood, such as different aspects of parenting (Eisenberg, VanSchyndel, et al., 2015; Hintsanen et al., 2019) and forms of early child care arrangements (Gluschkoff et al., 2018). It has further been shown that compassion and compassion‐related phenotypes have a significant genetic component (Ando et al., 2004; Dobewall et al., 2021; Gillespie et al., 2003; Pełka‐Wysiecka et al., 2012). Twin studies have shown that it is difficult to distinguish shared genetics from environmental effects (Avinun & Knafo‐Noam, 2015; Eisenberg, Spinrad, et al., 2015; Knafo‐Noam et al., 2020) suggesting that parental influences are often explained by the genotype, not environmental effects.…”