Serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR), environmental conditions, and developing negative emotionality and fear in early childhood

Studies on neural and behavioral correlates of the serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) strongly suggested interaction effects between the 5-HTTLPR genotype and environmental conditions on infant emotionality development. However, empirical studies that involve human infants are rare. The present study thus analyzed the interaction of the 5-HTTLPR genotype with the quality of maternal parenting behavior on the development of negative emotionality and fear in infancy. In a sample of 69 healthy firstborn infants, negative emotionality and fear were assessed at 4, 8, and 12 months using a multi-method approach. The quality of previous parenting has been operationalized as the quality of the mother-infant attachment relationship measured by the strange situation procedure at 18 months. Corresponding to hypotheses, to their caregiver insecurely attached infants who were homozygous for the s-variant of the 5-HTTLPR genotype developed a high level of negative emotionality and fear. The results thus are in line with the experimental results in the non-human primate model and point to a more pronounced susceptibility of s/s carrying infants to early rearing experiences.