Emotional-Behavioral Regulation, Temperament and Parent–Child Interactions Are Associated with Dopamine Transporter Allelic Polymorphism in Early Childhood: A Pilot Study

Silvia Cimino, Eleonora Marzilli, Mimma Tafà and Luca Cerniglia
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Silvia Cimino: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, University of Rome, 00136 Rome, Italy
Eleonora Marzilli: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, University of Rome, 00136 Rome, Italy
Mimma Tafà: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, University of Rome, 00136 Rome, Italy
Luca Cerniglia: Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 39, 00136 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-17

Abstract: International research has highlighted the role played by individual genetic polymorphism, children’s emotional-behavioral functioning, and quality of parent–child feeding interaction in shaping children’s development. Few studies have focused on the dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene in these processes. In a community sample of 81 families with young children aged between 19 and 28 months (37 males and 44 females), this pilot study aimed to explore possible relationships between children’s DAT1 genotype (9/x: 9/9, 9/19 contrasted to 10/10), their own psychological profiles, parental psychopathological risk, and the quality of mother–child and father–child feeding interactions. Children’s DAT1 genotype was assessed collecting DNA through buccal; children’s temperament and emotional-behavioral regulation, and parental psychopathological risk were assessed, respectively, through report-form and self-report instruments; then, dyadic exchanges were videotaped during a mealtime, and coded based on the Scala di Valutazione dell′Interazione Alimentare (SVIA). Results showed significant differences in the variables under study based on children’s DAT1 genotype, with a higher risk associated with the 10/10. Our findings have provided preliminary new evidence on the relationship between a different child’s polymorphisms, their own emotional-behavioral functioning, and the quality of the family environment, with important implications for the planning of more targeted prevention programs.

Keywords: dopamine transporter; genotype; psychopathological risk; temperament; feeding interactions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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