The influence of DRD4 genotype and perinatal complications on preschoolers' negative emotionality

• Published in: Journal of applied developmental psychology 2016-01, Vol.42, p.71-79
• Main Authors: Bersted, Kyle A., DiLalla, Lisabeth F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: DRD4; Molecular genetics; Negative emotionality; Preschoolers; Risk/protective factors; Temperament
• ISSN: 0193-3973; 1873-7900
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2015.12.001

This study investigated the influence of the DRD4 gene and the perinatal environment on child temperament in 5-year-old twins. Participants were 94 twin or triplet sets (101 girls, 89 boys). Parents completed questionnaires about children's birth complications (BC) when children were 1 or 2years old and temperament questionnaires assessing negative emotionality (NE) when children were 5. DRD4 genotype was determined from children's buccal cells. A significant interaction between BC and DRD4 genotype predicted children's NE. For children without the DRD4 7-repeat allele, those with more moderate BC had high levels of NE; those with the fewest moderate BC showed significantly less NE. This did not hold for children with the 7-repeat allele. Additionally, minor BC significantly predicted NE for all children, regardless of genotype, whereas severe BC did not. This study underlines the importance of including NE during the preschool years as a possible risk outcome for birth complications. •DRD4 genotype and birth complications affect preschoolers' negative emotionality.•DRD4-no7R children with more moderate-level birth complications had more negative emotionality.•DRD4-no7R children with few moderate-level birth complications had less negative emotionality.•DRD4-7R children's negative emotionality was not influenced by the presence or absence of birth complications.