Attachment Security and Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism Interact to Influence Affectionate Communication

Abstract

The present study investigated the interaction of attachment security and genotype in the oxytocin receptor gene on affectionate communication. Specifically, we predicted that individuals’ genotype for the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs53576 on the oxytocin receptor gene would show a stronger influence in individuals with weak attachment security compared to individuals with strong attachment security. One hundred sixty-four participants completed questionnaire measures about their attachment security and affectionate communication and provided saliva samples for genetic analysis. In support of a predicted gene-environment interaction (G x E) interaction, the GG genotype showed a stronger influence on affectionate communication for people low in attachment security than for people high in attachment security. These results support the (G x E) approach to understanding the relationship between genetics and environmental triggers, as the influence of genotype for rs53576 on affectionate communication was moderated by attachment security.

Keywords:

• Affection
• Genetics
• Oxytocin

Notes

For the OXTR main effect, the beta weight changed from 0.004 to 0.063 (which was still nonsignificant) when comparing the full sample to the women-only subsample. The beta for the attachment security main effect changed from 0.40 to 0.38, and the beta for the OXTR-by-attachment security interaction changed from −0.64 to −0.58.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kory Floyd

Kory Floyd (Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1998) is a professor of human communication at Arizona State University.

Amanda Denes

Amanda Denes (Ph.D., University of California Santa Barbara, 2012) is an assistant professor of communication at the University of Connecticut.