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Gene–culture interaction: influence of culture and oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) polymorphism on loneliness

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Culture and Brain

Abstract

Previous research has shown that culture and genes can interact to influence social behaviors. Variation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) rs53576 polymorphism has been linked to differential susceptibility to cultural influences with genetically susceptible individuals showing more culturally typical behaviors. The present research focuses on a psychological outcome of such behaviors, specifically loneliness, which is an outcome related to well-being. We also considered attachment style as a mediator for the interaction between culture and OXTR genetic variation on loneliness. Previous gene–culture interaction research shows that G-allele carriers may be genetically predisposed to show more culturally typical behaviors and psychological tendencies, compared to A-allele carriers. Thus, we expected that genetically susceptible Japanese would show a more avoidant attachment style (a pattern more common in Japan), while susceptible Americans would show a more secure attachment style (a pattern more common in the U.S.). In both cultures, we expected that greater avoidant relationship tendencies would predict greater loneliness. Participants (217 American and 153 Japanese students) completed scales to measure loneliness and attachment style, and provided saliva for genotyping. As predicted, culture moderated the link between genetic susceptibility and loneliness, with G-allele Americans showing less loneliness than A-allele carriers. Further, the link was mediated by attachment style. Our study extends existing research by showing that gene–culture interactions on relationship patterns have consequences for psychological well-being outcomes.

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Notes

  1. Across all three cultural groups, there was a positive correlation between attachment avoidance and anxiety, r European Americans (145) = .403, p < .001, r Asian Americans(72) = .306, p = .009, r Japanese(153) = .431, p < .001.

  2. Controlling for gender does not alter the significance of the interaction.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by National Science Foundation Grant BCS-1124552 to the last author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA

    Jessica LeClair & Heejung S. Kim

  2. York University, York, UK

    Joni Y. Sasaki

  3. Kobe University, Kobe, Japan

    Keiko Ishii

  4. Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan

    Mizuho Shinada

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  1. Jessica LeClair
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Correspondence to Jessica LeClair or Heejung S. Kim.

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LeClair, J., Sasaki, J.Y., Ishii, K. et al. Gene–culture interaction: influence of culture and oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) polymorphism on loneliness. Cult. Brain 4, 21–37 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40167-016-0034-7

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