Gene–environment interplay in the context of romantic relationships

Whisman, Mark A.; South, Susan C.

doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.08.002

Cited by 12 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…We did not find that attachment anxiety or avoidance moderated the associations between actor and partner GG genotypes and reports of marital satisfaction. Instead of providing evidence for a gene X environment model [39], we found that having the GG polymorphism of the OXTR rs53576 had a direct effect or served as a marker. To be exact, we found that one’s genetic polymorphism reflected a socially competent and empathetic disposition that is likely to lead to secure attachment which in turn leads to greater marital satisfaction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Associations between spouses’ oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism, attachment security, and marital satisfaction

et al. 2019

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OXTR rs53576, a polymorphism on the oxytocin receptor gene, has previously been linked to individual differences in social behaviors. That is, individuals with the GG genotype show greater empathy, sociability, and emotional stability. In the context of close relationships, such psychological resources are associated with better relationship outcomes. However, no studies to our knowledge have examined associations between spouses’ OXTR polymorphisms, attachment security, and marital satisfaction. In the current study, 178 married couples (N = 356; ages 37–90) completed self-report measures of attachment security and marital satisfaction and provided saliva samples for genotyping. Results from Actor Partner Interdependence Models showed that individuals who had the GG genotype (actor effect) or had a spouse with the GG genotype (partner effect) reported greater marital satisfaction than individuals with AA or AG genotypes. Furthermore, greater attachment security mediated associations between GG genotype and marital satisfaction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Associations between spouses’ oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism, attachment security, and marital satisfaction

et al. 2019

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“…The goal of this section is to briefly review the types of analytic models that are typically used in genetically informed relationships research, rather than to provide an exhaustive review of specific study results (readers interested in a review of findings are referred to Whisman and South 2016). The majority of genetically informed research on relationships is conducted in twin samples, where the patterns of resemblance for monozygotic and dizygotic twins are used to make inferences about the degree to which genetic and environmental factors influence outcomes.…”

Section: Genetically Informed Research On Relationships: the Field Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Above and beyond partitioning the variance in relationship outcomes into genetic and environmental components, twin methods are also often used to examine the associations between relationship factors and other behavioral, emotional, and health outcomes (Whisman and South 2016). One common question is the nature of the associations between relationship factors and these other outcomes.…”

Section: Genetically Informed Research On Relationships: the Field Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Emergence in Genetically Informed Relationships Research: A Methodological Analysis

Salvatore

Kendler

2018

Behav Genet

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This paper provides a critical analysis of genetically informed research on relationships, with an emphasis on relationships among unrelated individuals (e.g., spouses). To date, research in this area has used traditional behavioral genetic frameworks to either partition the variance in relationship-related outcomes into genetic and environmental components, or to examine geneenvironment interplay between relationship factors and other outcomes. However, this conventional approach is at odds with the long-standing understanding from the field of relationship science that both partners' characteristics matter when predicting shared outcomesthat is, outcomes that are emergent. We examine briefly the philosophical concept of emergence, and discuss ways to model dyadic outcomes in genetically informed relationships research. We also review the related topic of social genetic effects, which refer to the influence of a social partner's genotype on a proband's phenotype. A genetically informed dyadic perspective has potentially important consequences for our understanding of the pathways from genotype→shared or individual-level phenotypes, and more fully recognizes the complexity of how genetic and social/environmental factors come together to influence human behavior.The Role of Emergence in Genetically Informative Relationships Research Consider an interaction between two spouses who have been together for over a decade. The day before, Tim offered to drive Alice to the airport for her 7:45 flight, not realizing that she had a morning, not evening, departure. He recognizes the miscommunication when Alice shakes him awake, saying that they need to get on the road for the 40-minute drive to the airport.

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“…Moreover, expressions of love and acts of affection enhance commitment (Joel et al, 2013; Marston et al, 1998) and predict stable marital bonds (Huston et al, 2001). In sum, both the emotion and expression of romantic love contribute to stable long-term relationships and positive health outcomes (see also Cacioppo et al, 2015; Foran et al, 2015; Whisman & South, 2017 for discussion).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Men say “I love you” before women do: Robust across several countries

Watkins

Bovet

Fernández

et al. 2022

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

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Feeling and expressing love is at the core of romantic relationships, but individuals differ in their proclivity to worry about their relationships and/or avoid intimacy. Saying ‘I love you’ signals a commitment to a future with our romantic partner. Contrary to gender stereotypes, research in the US demonstrates that men are more likely to confess love first. We aimed to replicate this sex difference in an online cross-national sample (seven countries, three continents), while testing for variation according to attachment style and environment (the national sex ratio). Men were more likely to confess love first in a relationship, with preliminary evidence that this was more likely when men had more choice (more female-biased sex ratio). Independent of biological sex, highly avoidant respondents were less happy to hear ‘I love you’ than less avoidant respondents, and highly anxious respondents were happier to hear ‘I love you’ than less anxious respondents. Our findings suggest that prior observations generalize beyond an ethnically homogenous sample, and incorporate attachment theory into the study of love confessions. Our research suggests a dissociation between initial declarations of love (moderated by biological sex) and emotional responses to love confessions, moderated by attachment style but not by biological sex.

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Gene–environment interplay in the context of romantic relationships

Cited by 12 publications

References 44 publications

Associations between spouses’ oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism, attachment security, and marital satisfaction

Associations between spouses’ oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism, attachment security, and marital satisfaction

The Role of Emergence in Genetically Informed Relationships Research: A Methodological Analysis

Men say “I love you” before women do: Robust across several countries

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