Modulation of Instagram Number of Followings by Avoidance in Close Relationships in Young Adults Under a Gene x Environment Perspective

Bonassi, Andrea; Carollo, Alessandro; Cataldo, Ilaria; Gabrieli, Giulio; Tandiono, Moses; Foo, Jia Nee; Lepri, Bruno; Esposito, Gianluca

doi:10.31234/osf.io/xqr5v

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 91 publications

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“…However, there is a paucity in research investigating online sociability, particularly those considering the continuous and reciprocal interaction between the environment to which a person is exposed and their genetic profile [60,61,62].…”

Section: Environmental Influences On Socialization and Their Interplay With The Oxytocin Receptor Genementioning

confidence: 99%

The relation between oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms, adult attachment and Instagram sociability: An exploratory analysis

Carollo

Bonassi

Cataldo

et al. 2021

Heliyon

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Oxytocin is a primary neuropeptide which coordinates affiliative behavior. Previous researchers pointed to the association between genetic vulnerability on Oxytocin Receptor Gene ( OXTR ) and environmental factors (e.g., social relationships) to comprehend social behavior. Although an extensive knowledge of in-person social interactions has been obtained, little is known about online sociability. A gene-environment perspective is adopted to examine how OXTR and adult attachment moderate Instagram behavior. The genetic factors within the regions OXTR /rs53576 (A/A homozygotes vs G-carriers) and OXTR /rs2254298 (G/G homozygotes vs A-carriers) were assessed. The Experience in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire was used to collect participants' (N = 57, 16 males) attachment with a partner. The number of posts, followed people (“followings”) and followers were obtained from Instagram, and the Social Desirability Index (SDI) was calculated as the ratio of followers to followings. Interaction effects between OXTR groups and ECR-R scores on the number of posts and SDI were hypothesized. Results showed an effect of rs53576 on the number of Instagram followings. Specifically, people with A/A OXTR /rs53576 genotype had more followings than G-carriers independent of the anxiety or avoidance felt towards their partner. These preliminary results offer insights into future investigations on social media behavior.

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Section: Environmental Influences On Socialization and Their Interplay With The Oxytocin Receptor Genementioning

confidence: 99%

The relation between oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms, adult attachment and Instagram sociability: An exploratory analysis

Carollo

Bonassi

Cataldo

et al. 2021

Heliyon

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

The Interaction between Serotonin Transporter Allelic Variation and Maternal Care Modulates Instagram Sociability in a Sample of Singaporean Users

Bonassi

Cataldo

Gabrieli

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Human social interactions ensure recognition and approval from others, both in offline and online environments. This study applies a model from behavioral genetics on Instagram sociability to explore the impact of individual development on behavior on social networks. We hypothesize that sociable attitudes on Instagram resulted from an interaction between serotonin transporter gene alleles and the individual’s social relationship with caregivers. We assess the environmental and genetic components of 57 Instagram users. The self-report questionnaire Parental Bonding Instrument is adopted to determine the quality of parental bonding. The number of posts, followed users (“followings”), and followers are collected from Instagram as measures of online social activity. Additionally, the ratio between the number of followers and followings (“Social Desirability Index”) was calculated to estimate the asymmetry of each user’s social network. Finally, buccal mucosa cell samples were acquired, and the polymorphism rs25531 (T/T homozygotes vs. C-carriers) within the serotonin transporter gene was examined. In the preliminary analysis, we identified a gender effect on the number of followings. In addition, we specifically found a gene–environment interaction on the standardized Instagram “Social Desirability Index” in line with our predictions. Users with the genotype more sensitive to environmental influences (T/T homozygotes) showed a higher Instagram “Social Desirability Index” than nonsensitive ones (C-carriers) when they experienced positive maternal care. This result may contribute to understanding online social behavior from a gene*environment perspective.

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Modulation of Instagram Number of Followings by Avoidance in Close Relationships in Young Adults Under a Gene x Environment Perspective

Cited by 2 publications

References 91 publications

The relation between oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms, adult attachment and Instagram sociability: An exploratory analysis

The relation between oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms, adult attachment and Instagram sociability: An exploratory analysis

The Interaction between Serotonin Transporter Allelic Variation and Maternal Care Modulates Instagram Sociability in a Sample of Singaporean Users

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