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Disentangling genes, attachment, and environment: A systematic review of the developmental psychopathology literature on gene–environment interactions and attachment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2019

Lisa Golds ,
Karina de Kruiff  and
Angus MacBeth Open the ORCID record for Angus MacBeth [Opens in a new window]
Lisa Golds
Affiliation:
School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Karina de Kruiff
Affiliation:
School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Angus MacBeth*
Affiliation:
School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Angus MacBeth, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Rm 3.06A, Doorway 6, Medical Quad, Teviot Place Edinburgh, EH8 9AG; E-mail: angus.macbeth@ed.ac.uk.
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Abstract

The role of genetics in relation to attachment is of continued interest to developmental psychology. Recent research has attempted to disentangle genetic main effects, environmental effects, and gene and environment (G × E) interactions in the development of attachment security/insecurity and disorganization. We systematically reviewed associations between gene markers and attachment, including G × E interactions, identifying 27 eligible studies. Inconsistent results emerged for associations between both gene effects and G × E interactions on attachment organization. Where G × E interactions used attachment as the environmental factor in the interaction, we observed more consistent results for differential susceptibility of G × E interactions on offspring behavior. Small sample size and heterogeneity in measurement of environmental factors impacted on comparability of studies. From these results, we propose that the future of research into the role of genetic effects in attachment lies in further exploration of G × E interactions, particularly where attachment acts as an environmental factor impacting on other child developmental outcomes emerging from the caregiving environment, consistent with differential susceptibility approaches to developmental psychopathology. In addition, from a methodological perspective, establishing the role of gene markers in such models will require a shift toward contemporary genomics, including genome-wide analysis (including novel genes and chromosomal loci), and epigenetic individual variations.

Keywords

attachmentdisorganizationGene × Environmentgenes
Type
Regular Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 32 , Issue 1 , February 2020 , pp. 357 - 381
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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