The moderating effect of monoamine oxidase A gene polymorphism in relationship between childhood abuse of male adolescents and externalizing behaviors / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between male adolescents' childhood abuse and externalizing behaviors,and the moderating effect of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene promoter region variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism.MethodsThrough random cluster sampling,352 Han male middle school students from Changsha were tested by Achenbach child behavior checklist-youth self reports (CBCL-YSR)and childhood trauma questionnaire-28 item short form (CTQ-SF),their MAOA genotypes were also identified.A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to test the moderating effect.Results ( 1 ) Compared participates with high activity MAOA gene and that with low activity MAOA gene,there were no significant differences on age ( ( 15.82 ± 1.52) vs ( 15.94 ± 1.62 ) ),externalizing behaviors ( ( 15.13 ± 10.14 ) vs ( 14.33 ± 9.70 ) ),total abuse ( (52.59 ± 10.46) vs (51.39 ± 7.56 ) ),emotional abuse( ( 7.63 ± 3.31 ) vs ( 7.11 ± 2.68 ) ),physical abuse ( ( 6.40 ± 2.82) vs (6.12 ± 2.05 ) ),sexual abuse ( ( 6.42 ± 3.24 ) vs ( 5.94 ± 1.72 ) ),emotional neglect ((13.44±5.12) vs (13.16 ±4.83) ),physical neglect( (10.27 ±2.64) vs (10.44±2.53))(t=-1.789～0.678,P ＞ 0.05 ).(2)Except emotional neglect and physical neglect,emotional abuse,physical abuse and sexual abuse could predict externalizing behaviors( Sβ =0.141 ～0.347,P ＜ 0.01 ).(3) MAOA gene was not directly related to externalizing behaviors( Sβ =- 0.023,P ＞ 0.05 ).There was a significant interaction between MAOA gene and emotional abuse( Sβ =-0.148,P ＜ 0.01 ).The interaction between MAOA gene and physical abuse or sexual abuse showed no statistical significance( Sβ =- 0.067,- 0.005,P ＞ 0.05 ).ConclusionMAOA gene polymorphism can moderate the relationship between male adolescents'childhood emotional abuse and externalizing behaviors.