Supportive Family Environments, Genes That Confer Sensitivity, and Allostatic Load Among Rural African American Emerging Adults: A Prospective Analysis

Gene H Brody; Tianyi Yu; Yi-fu Chen; Steven M Kogan; Gary W Evans; Michael Windle; Meg Gerrard; Frederick X Gibbons; Ronald L Simons; Robert A Philibert

doi:10.1037/a0027829

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Supportive Family Environments, Genes That Confer Sensitivity, and Allostatic Load Among Rural African American Emerging Adults: A Prospective Analysis

Journal article

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Supportive Family Environments, Genes That Confer Sensitivity, and Allostatic Load Among Rural African American Emerging Adults: A Prospective Analysis

Gene H Brody, Tianyi Yu, Yi-fu Chen, Steven M Kogan, Gary W Evans, Michael Windle, Meg Gerrard, Frederick X Gibbons, Ronald L Simons and Robert A Philibert

Journal of family psychology, Vol.27(1), pp.22-29

02/2013

DOI: 10.1037/a0027829

PMCID: PMC3390435

PMID: 22468688

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3390435View

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate interactions between exposure to supportive family environments and genetic characteristics, which were hypothesized to forecast variations in allostatic load (AL) in a representative sample of 315 rural African American youths. Data on family environments were gathered when youths were 11-13, and genetic data were collected when they were 16, years of age. Data on AL were obtained at the beginning of emerging adulthood, age 19 years. The data analyses revealed that, as predicted, emerging adults exposed to less supportive family environments across preadolescence manifested higher levels of AL when they carried the short (s) allele at the 5-HTTLPR and an allele of DRD4 with seven or more repeats. This is an E(family environment) × G(5-HTTLPR status) × G(DRD4 status) interaction. These data suggest that African American youths carrying genes that confer sensitivity who are exposed to less supportive family environments may be at greater risk for adverse physical health consequences that AL presages.

environment

genetics

family

allostatic load

African American

Details

Title: Subtitle: Supportive Family Environments, Genes That Confer Sensitivity, and Allostatic Load Among Rural African American Emerging Adults: A Prospective Analysis
Creators: Gene H Brody - Center for Family Research, University of Georgia
Tianyi Yu - Center for Family Research, University of Georgia
Yi-fu Chen - Center for Family Research, University of Georgia
Steven M Kogan - Department of Child and Family Development and Center for Family Research, University of Georgia
Gary W Evans - Department of Design and Environmental Analysis and Department of Human Development, Cornell University
Michael Windle - Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University
Meg Gerrard - Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth College
Frederick X Gibbons - Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College
Ronald L Simons - Department of Sociology, University of Georgia
Robert A Philibert - Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa
Contributors: Mark A Whisman (Editor)
Nadine J Kaslow (Editor)
Steven R. H Beach (Editor)
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of family psychology, Vol.27(1), pp.22-29
DOI: 10.1037/a0027829
PMID: 22468688
PMCID: PMC3390435
NLM abbreviation: J Fam Psychol
ISSN: 0893-3200
eISSN: 1939-1293
Publisher: American Psychological Association
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000071, name: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, award: R01HD030588; DOI: 10.13039/100000026, name: National Institute on Drug Abuse, award: P30DA027827
Language: English
Date published: 02/2013
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984003920002771

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