Vulnerability to depression: A moderated mediation model of the roles of child maltreatment, peer victimization, and serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region genetic variation among children from low socioeconomic status backgrounds

Abstract

Child maltreatment, peer victimization, and a polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) were examined as predictors of depressive symptomatology. Children (M age = 11.26, SD = 1.65), including 156 maltreated and 145 nonmaltreated children from comparable low socioeconomic backgrounds, provided DNA samples and self-reports of relational peer victimization, overt peer victimization, and depressive symptoms. Path analysis showed that relational and overt victimization mediated the association between child maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Bootstrapping procedures were used to test moderated mediation and demonstrated that genotype moderated the indirect effects of relational and overt victimization on child depressive symptoms, such that victimized children with the l/l variation were at an increased risk for depressive symptoms compared to victimized children carrying an s allele. Results highlight the utility of examining process models that incorporate biological and psychological factors contributing to the development of depressive symptomatology, and provide direction toward understanding and promoting resilience among high risk youth from a multiple levels of analysis approach.

Interleukin 1B gene (IL1B) variation and internalizing symptoms in maltreated preschoolers

“…Consistent with adult studies (Caspi et al, 2003), Kaufman et al reported a significant association of 5-HTTLPR genotype with increased depressive symptoms in maltreated children compared to maltreated children with other genotypes or non-maltreated children with the same genotype (Kaufman et al, 2004). This result has been replicated in other studies in youth and appears potentiated by factors such as low social supports (Aslund et al, 2009; Banny, Cicchetti, Rogosch, Oshri, & Crick, 2013; Kaufman et al, 2004). Other studies have demonstrated G×E interactions in the development of internalizing disorders involving genetic variants in the serotonergic, dopaminergic, noradrenergic, glutamatergic and GABAergic systems, other monoamine enzymes, cannabinoids, neuroendocrine, pro-survival factors and inflammatory mediators (for review of mechanisms see: (Mandelli & Serretti, 2013; Nugent et al, 2011).…”

Future Directions for Research on the Development of Relational and Physical Peer Victimization

“…Benjet et al found that having two 5-HTTLPR short alleles conferred vulnerability to depression in adolescent girls who were relationally victimized. These findings are not entirely consistent with the Banny et al (2013) findings, but different methodology and design may account for the differential effects and highlight the need for future work. Clearly, these studies demonstrate the important advances that may be made when data on both genetic markers and peer context are known.…”

“…More specifically, there was evidence of moderated mediation such that genotype moderated the indirect effect of relational and physical victimization on depressive symptomatology in children (Banny et al, 2013). Using indirect effects testing with bootstrapping procedures that are now widely available, they found that children who were victimized and had the long=long variation 512 OSTROV AND KAMPER of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) were at an increased risk relative to children who had a short allele of the same gene (Banny et al, 2013). Benjet, Thompson, and Gotlib (2010) tested similar questions and found that the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism did not predict level of depression symptoms but that the interaction between the polymorphism and relational peer victimization did significantly predict self-reported depressive symptomatology in girls.…”

“…A number of excellent tutorials (e.g., Murray-Close, 2013) and examples for using gene-environment interaction designs or psychophysiological methods have recently been introduced to the literature (see also two articles in this special issue: Brendgen, Girard, Vitaro, Dionne, & Boivin, 2015;Lafko, Murray-Close, & Shoulberg, 2013). An illustrative example of this approach includes a seminal publication by Banny and colleagues, which showed that peer victimization subtypes mediated the association between child maltreatment and depressive symptoms (Banny, Cicchetti, Rogosch, Oshri, & Crick, 2013). More specifically, there was evidence of moderated mediation such that genotype moderated the indirect effect of relational and physical victimization on depressive symptomatology in children (Banny et al, 2013).…”

“…An illustrative example of this approach includes a seminal publication by Banny and colleagues, which showed that peer victimization subtypes mediated the association between child maltreatment and depressive symptoms (Banny, Cicchetti, Rogosch, Oshri, & Crick, 2013). More specifically, there was evidence of moderated mediation such that genotype moderated the indirect effect of relational and physical victimization on depressive symptomatology in children (Banny et al, 2013). Using indirect effects testing with bootstrapping procedures that are now widely available, they found that children who were victimized and had the long=long variation 512 OSTROV AND KAMPER of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) were at an increased risk relative to children who had a short allele of the same gene (Banny et al, 2013).…”