Molecular-genetic correlates of hostile behavior in the young: robust relationships between propensity to hostile behavior with a low-active variant of the monoamine oxidase enzyme gene MAOA-A (LPR)

Molecular-genetic correlates of hostile behavior in teenagers and young adults. G.Avanesyan et al. International Journal of Psychophysiology, Volume 131, Supplement, October 2018, Page S67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.07.197

Studying the problem of hostile behavior of people representing different age, ethnic, and cultural groups is becoming increasingly relevant, especially in complex and conflicted societies. To date, this field of research suffers from substantial shortage of studies that explore the relationships between hereditary factors and such psychological characteristic as “hostility.” Of a particular interest is the issue of the connection between the polymorphism of the MAOA gene (often associated with the development of such hereditary complications as mental disorders, dependencies, depression, and asocial traits) and the psychological characteristics of hostile strategies in behavior. The purpose of the study: To analyze the associations of the polymorphism of the MAOA gene with hostile behavior among adolescents and young adults. Participants, materials and method: 285 male adolescents and young adults (aged 12-19) composed the study sample. The Buss-Durkee Hostility inventory scales (in adaptation of A.K Osnitsky, 1998) were used as a measure of hostility. As a gene-candidate, the genotypes and alleles of the gene determining the work of the monoamine oxidase (MAOA) enzyme were considered. Isolating genomic DNA from buccal epithelium cells was used as a method for determining polymorphic variants of MAOA gene. Further statistical analysis and data processing were carried out using the PSPP program 0.8.5 and the program STATISTICA 6.1.478.

Study results: a low-active variant of the MAOA gene is found in 18% of the participants, high-activity variant in 63%. In 98% of young adults who have allele 3 (low enzyme activity), a high level of hostility is detected (according to the Buss-Durkee technique). The results of the single-factor analysis of variance, where the genetic parameters acted as an independent variable, and the dependent variables were different forms of manifestation of hostility, indicate the presence of robust relationships (F = 24.30, p b0.05) between propensity to hostile behavior with a low-active variant of the monoamine oxidase enzyme gene MAOA-A (LPR). Among the genetic polymorphisms of the MAOA gene that determine the risk of aggressive and hostile behavior, the low-active variant of the monoamine oxidase gene MAOA-A (LPR) plays the most important role in adolescents and young adults.