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Children’s DAT1 Polymorphism Moderates the Relationship Between Parents’ Psychological Profiles, Children’s DAT Methylation, and Their Emotional/Behavioral Functioning in a Normative Sample

Author

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  • Silvia Cimino

    (Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Luca Cerniglia

    (Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Giulia Ballarotto

    (Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Eleonora Marzilli

    (Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Esterina Pascale

    (Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Claudio D’Addario

    (Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy)

  • Walter Adriani

    (Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Angelo Giovanni Icro Maremmani

    (Department of Psychiatry, North-Western Tuscany Region Local Health Unit, 55049 Viareggio, Italy)

  • Renata Tambelli

    (Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Parental psychopathological risk is considered as one of the most crucial features associated with epigenetic modifications in offspring, which in turn are thought to be related to their emotional/behavioral profiles. The dopamine active transporter (DAT) gene is suggested to play a significant role in affective/behavioral regulation. On the basis of the previous literature, we aimed at verifying whether children’s DAT1 polymorphisms moderated the relationship between parents’ psychological profiles, children’s emotional/behavioral functioning, and DAT1 methylation in a normative sample of 79 families with school-age children (Ntot = 237). Children’s biological samples were collected through buccal swabs, while Symptom Check-List-90 item Revised, Adult Self Report, and Child Behavior Check-List/6–18 was administered to assess parental and children’s psychological functioning. We found that higher maternal externalizing problems predicted the following: higher levels of children’s DAT1 methylation at M1, but only among children with 10/10 genotype; higher levels of methylation at M2 among children with 10/10 genotype; while lower levels for children with a 9-repeat allele. There was also a positive relationship between fathers’ externalizing problems and children’s externalizing problems, only for children with a 9-repeat allele. Our findings support emerging evidence of the complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors in shaping children’ emotional/behavioral functioning, contributing to the knowledge of risk variables for a child’s development and psychological well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia Cimino & Luca Cerniglia & Giulia Ballarotto & Eleonora Marzilli & Esterina Pascale & Claudio D’Addario & Walter Adriani & Angelo Giovanni Icro Maremmani & Renata Tambelli, 2019. "Children’s DAT1 Polymorphism Moderates the Relationship Between Parents’ Psychological Profiles, Children’s DAT Methylation, and Their Emotional/Behavioral Functioning in a Normative Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-20, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:14:p:2567-:d:249462
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. D. R. Cox, 1992. "Causality: Some Statistical Aspects," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 155(2), pages 291-301, March.
    2. Virginia Hughes, 2014. "Epigenetics: The sins of the father," Nature, Nature, vol. 507(7490), pages 22-24, March.
    3. Wunsch, Guillaume & Mouchart, Michel & Russo, Federica, 2010. "Do we necessarily need longitudinal data to infer causal relations?," LIDAM Reprints ISBA 2010016, Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Statistics, Biostatistics and Actuarial Sciences (ISBA).
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    1. Eleonora Marzilli & Luca Cerniglia & Giulia Ballarotto & Silvia Cimino, 2020. "Internet Addiction among Young Adult University Students: The Complex Interplay between Family Functioning, Impulsivity, Depression, and Anxiety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Laura De Nardi & Valentina Carpentieri & Esterina Pascale & Mariangela Pucci & Claudio D'Addario & Luca Cerniglia & Walter Adriani & Silvia Cimino, 2020. "Involvement of DAT1 Gene on Internet Addiction: Cross-Correlations of Methylation Levels in 5′-UTR and 3’-UTR Genotypes, Interact with Impulsivity and Attachment-Driven Quality of Relationships," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-11, October.
    3. Claire Blewitt & Heather Morris & Kylie Jackson & Helen Barrett & Heidi Bergmeier & Amanda O’Connor & Aya Mousa & Andrea Nolan & Helen Skouteris, 2020. "Integrating Health and Educational Perspectives to Promote Preschoolers’ Social and Emotional Learning: Development of a Multi-Faceted Program Using an Intervention Mapping Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-24, January.

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