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

Abstract

Oxytocin is a primary neuropeptide which coordinates affiliative behavior. Previous researchers pointed to the association between genetic vulnerability on Oxytocin Receptor Gene ( OXTR ) and environmental factors (e.g., social relationships) to comprehend social behavior. Although an extensive knowledge of in-person social interactions has been obtained, little is known about online sociability. A gene-environment perspective is adopted to examine how OXTR and adult attachment moderate Instagram behavior. The genetic factors within the regions OXTR /rs53576 (A/A homozygotes vs G-carriers) and OXTR /rs2254298 (G/G homozygotes vs A-carriers) were assessed. The Experience in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire was used to collect participants' (N = 57, 16 males) attachment with a partner. The number of posts, followed people (“followings”) and followers were obtained from Instagram, and the Social Desirability Index (SDI) was calculated as the ratio of followers to followings. Interaction effects between OXTR groups and ECR-R scores on the number of posts and SDI were hypothesized. Results showed an effect of rs53576 on the number of Instagram followings. Specifically, people with A/A OXTR /rs53576 genotype had more followings than G-carriers independent of the anxiety or avoidance felt towards their partner. These preliminary results offer insights into future investigations on social media behavior.

The Role of Stress and Cognitive Absorption in Predicting Social Network Addiction

“…The issue seems to have been exacerbated by COVID-19-related lockdown restrictions, which turned online interaction into the only viable option for many [61,62]. In view of its major relevance, the topic of social media behaviour and its related pathologies has been investigated from several disciplinary angles [63], with a view to developing effective strategies to cope with problematic and socially critical situations [64]. Our paper, in line with the existing literature [43], did not find significant gender differences in SN addiction.…”

An Exploratory Analysis of the Effect of Demographic Features on Sleeping Patterns and Academic Stress in Adolescents in China

“…Variables regarding participants’ sleeping patterns were weekday bedtimes, wake up times, and total sleep time; weekend bedtimes, wake up times, and total sleep time; weekend sleep delay, weekend oversleep, daytime sleepiness, sleep/wake behaviour problems, circadian preference, and caffeine consumption. Two Bonferroni corrections were computed to adjust the significance levels and to control for false-positive results (i.e., type I error) in a conservative way [ 56 ]. The first Bonferroni correction was computed to interpret the results regarding the influence of demographic variables on sleeping patterns.…”

Genetic and epigenetic effects on couple adjustment in context of romantic relationship: A scoping systematic review

“…Romantic love and psychological intimacy play more important roles in marriages in individualistic cultures (compared with collectivistic cultures). In collectivistic cultures, relationship with other family members (e.g., parents, siblings, and in-laws) has an important position (Wong and Goodwin, 2009;Chiu and Hong, 2013;Carollo et al, 2021). Crosscultural studies of love and intimacy have reported differences between individualistic and collectivistic cultures.…”