The Interaction Between Serotonin Transporter Allelic Variation and Maternal Care Modulates Instagram Sociability in a Sample of Singaporean Users

Overview

Journal Int J Environ Res Public Health

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Environmental Health
Public Health

Date 2022 May 14

PMID 35564743

Authors

Andrea Bonassi

Ilaria Cataldo

Giulio Gabrieli

Moses Tandiono

Jia Nee Foo

Bruno Lepri

Gianluca Esposito

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Human social interactions ensure recognition and approval from others, both in offline and online environments. This study applies a model from behavioral genetics on Instagram sociability to explore the impact of individual development on behavior on social networks. We hypothesize that sociable attitudes on Instagram resulted from an interaction between serotonin transporter gene alleles and the individual's social relationship with caregivers. We assess the environmental and genetic components of 57 Instagram users. The self-report questionnaire is adopted to determine the quality of parental bonding. The number of posts, followed users ("followings"), and followers are collected from Instagram as measures of online social activity. Additionally, the ratio between the number of followers and followings ("Social Desirability Index") was calculated to estimate the asymmetry of each user's social network. Finally, buccal mucosa cell samples were acquired, and the polymorphism rs25531 (T/T homozygotes vs. C-carriers) within the serotonin transporter gene was examined. In the preliminary analysis, we identified a gender effect on the number of followings. In addition, we specifically found a gene-environment interaction on the standardized Instagram "Social Desirability Index" in line with our predictions. Users with the genotype more sensitive to environmental influences (T/T homozygotes) showed a higher Instagram "Social Desirability Index" than nonsensitive ones (C-carriers) when they experienced positive maternal care. This result may contribute to understanding online social behavior from a gene*environment perspective.

Citing Articles

The relation between oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms, adult attachment and Instagram sociability: An exploratory analysis.

Carollo A, Bonassi A, Cataldo I, Gabrieli G, Tandiono M, Foo J Heliyon. 2021; 7(9):e07894.

PMID: 34611556 PMC: 8477146. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07894.

Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphisms and Maternal Overprotection Regulate Adult Social Expectations on Close Relationships.

Bonassi A, Cataldo I, Gabrieli G, Lepri B, Esposito G Brain Sci. 2021; 11(9).

PMID: 34573145 PMC: 8466110. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11091123.

Modulation of Instagram Number of Followings by Avoidance in Close Relationships in Young Adults under a Gene x Environment Perspective.

Bonassi A, Carollo A, Cataldo I, Gabrieli G, Tandiono M, Foo J Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(14).

PMID: 34300010 PMC: 8303232. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18147547.

Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Early Parental Bonding Interact in Shaping Instagram Social Behavior.

Bonassi A, Cataldo I, Gabrieli G, Foo J, Lepri B, Esposito G Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(19).

PMID: 33022913 PMC: 7579356. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17197232.

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