Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Interacts with Maternal Parenting Influencing Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: Evidence of Differential Susceptibility Model

  • Empirical Research
  • Published:
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although depressive symptoms are common during adolescence, little research has examined gene–environment interaction on youth depression. This study chose the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, tested the interaction between a functional polymorphism resulting amino acid substitution of valine (Val) to methionine (Met) in the proBDNF protein at codon 66 (Val66Met), and maternal parenting on youth depressive symptoms in a sample of 780 community adolescents of Chinese Han ethnicity (aged 11–17, M = 13.6, 51.3 % females). Participants reported their depressive symptoms and perceived maternal parenting. Results indicated the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism significantly moderated the influence of maternal warmth-reasoning, but not harshness-hostility, on youth depressive symptoms. Confirmatory model evaluation indicated that the interaction effect involving warmth-reasoning conformed to the differential-susceptibility rather than diathesis-stress model of person-X-environment interaction. Thus, Val carriers experienced less depressive symptoms than Met homozygotes when mothering was more positive but more symptoms when mothering was less positive. The findings provided evidence in support of the differential susceptibility hypothesis of youth depressive symptoms and shed light on the importance of examining the gene–environment interaction from a developmental perspective.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander, N., Osinsky, R., Schmitz, A., Mueller, E., Kuepper, Y., & Hennig, J. (2010). The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism affects HPA-axis reactivity to acute stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 35, 949–953. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.12.008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., & Van Ijzendoorn, M. H. (2011). Differential susceptibility to rearing environment depending on dopamine-related genes: New evidence and a meta-analysis. Development and Psychopathology, 23, 39–52. doi:10.1017/S0954579410000635.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., & Van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2015). The hidden efficacy of interventions: Gene × environment experiments from a differential susceptibility perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 66, 381–409. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-015407.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Balazs, J., Miklósi, M., Kereszteny, A., Hoven, C. W., Carli, V., Wasserman, C., … Cosman, D. (2013). Adolescent subthreshold depression and anxiety: Psychopathology, functional impairment and increased suicide risk. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54, 670–677. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12016.

  • Bath, K. G., Schilit, A., & Lee, F. S. (2013). Stress effects on BDNF expression: Effects of age, sex, and form of stress. Neuroscience, 239, 149–156. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.01.074.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., & Van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2007). For better and for worse differential susceptibility to environmental influences. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 16, 300–304. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00525.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J., & Pluess, M. (2009). Beyond diathesis stress: Differential susceptibility to environmental influences. Psychological Bulletin, 135, 885–908. doi:10.1037/a0017376.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J., & Pluess, M. (2013). Beyond risk, resilience, and dysregulation: Phenotypic plasticity and human development. Development and Psychopathology, 25, 1243–1261. doi:10.1017/s095457941300059x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J., Pluess, M., & Widaman, K. F. (2013). Confirmatory and competitive evaluation of alternative gene–environment interaction hypotheses. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54, 1135–1143. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12075.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J., & Van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2015). What works for whom? Genetic moderation of intervention efficacy. Development and Psychopathology, 27, 1–6. doi:10.1017/s0954579414001254.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blos, P. (1967). The second individuation process of adolescence. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 22, 162–186.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan, C. M., Eccles, J. S., Flanagan, C., Midgley, C., Feldlaufer, H., & Harold, R. D. (1990). Parents’ and teachers’ beliefs about adolescents: Effects of sex and experience. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 19(4), 363–394.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buil, J. M., Koot, H. M., Olthof, T., Nelson, K. A., & van Lier, P. A. (2015). DRD4 genotype and the developmental link of peer social preference with conduct problems and prosocial behavior across ages 9–12 years. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44, 1360–1378.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Casey, B. J., Glatt, C. E., Tottenham, N., Soliman, F., Bath, K., Amso, D., et al. (2009). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a model system for examining gene by environment interactions across development. Neuroscience, 164, 108–120.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caspi, A., Hariri, A. R., Holmes, A., Uher, R., & Moffitt, T. E. (2010). Genetic sensitivity to the environment: The case of the serotonin transporter gene and its implications for studying complex diseases and traits. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 167, 509–527.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caspi, A., Sugden, K., Moffitt, T. E., Taylor, A., Craig, I. W., Harrington, H., … Poulton, R. (2003). Influence of life stress on depression: Moderation by a polymorphism in the 5-HTT gene. Science, 301, 386–389. doi:10.1126/science.1083968.

  • Castrén, E., & Rantamäki, T. (2010). The role of BDNF and its receptors in depression and antidepressant drug action: Reactivation of developmental plasticity. Developmental Neurobiology, 70, 289–297. doi:10.1002/dneu.20758.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J., Li, X., & McGue, M. (2012). Interacting effect of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and stressful life events on adolescent depression. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 11, 958–965. doi:10.1111/j.1601-183x.2012.00843.x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J., Li, X., Zhang, J., Natsuaki, M. N., Leve, L. D., Harold, G. T., … Ge, X. (2013). The Beijing Twin Study (BeTwiSt): A longitudinal study of child and adolescent development. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 16, 91–97. doi:10.1017/thg.2012.115.

  • Chen, X., Liu, M., & Li, D. (2000). Parental warmth, control, and indulgence and their relations to adjustment in Chinese children: A longitudinal study. Journal of Family Psychology, 14, 401–419. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.14.3.401.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Z. Y., Jing, D., Bath, K. G., Ieraci, A., Khan, T., Siao, C. J., … Lee, F. S. (2006). Genetic variant BDNF (Val66Met) polymorphism alters anxiety-related behavior. Science, 314, 140–143.

  • Collins, W. A., & Laursen, B. (2004). Parent–adolescent relationships and influences. In R. M. Lerner & L. Steinberg (Eds.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (pp. 331–361). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, C. R., Grotevant, H. D., & Condon, S. M. (1983). Methodological challenges of selectivity in family interaction: Assessing temporal patterns of individuation. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 44, 749–754.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz-Fuentes, C. S., Benjet, C., Martínez-Levy, G. A., Pérez-Molina, A., Briones-Velasco, M., & Suárez-González, J. (2014). BDNF Met66 modulates the cumulative effect of psychosocial childhood adversities on major depression in adolescents. Brain and behavior, 4, 290–297.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cutuli, D., Caporali, P., Gelfo, F., Angelucci, F., Laricchiuta, D., Foti, F., … Petrosini, L. (2015). Pre-reproductive maternal enrichment influences rat maternal care and offspring developmental trajectories: behavioral performances and neuroplasticity correlates. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00066.

  • De Goede, I. H., Branje, S. J., & Meeus, W. H. (2009). Developmental changes in adolescents’ perceptions of relationships with their parents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38, 75–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diego, M. A., Field, T. M., & Sanders, C. E. (2003). Academic performance, popularity, and depression predict adolescent substance use. Adolescence, 38, 35–42.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DiLalla, L. F., Elam, K. K., & Smolen, A. (2009). Genetic and gene–environment interaction effects on preschoolers’ social behaviors. Developmental Psychobiology, 51, 451–464.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duman, R. S., & Monteggia, L. M. (2006). A neurotrophic model for stress-related mood disorders. Biological Psychiatry, 59, 1116–1127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, E. C., Uddin, M., Subramanian, S. V., Smoller, J. W., Galea, S., & Koenen, K. C. (2011). Research Review: Gene–environment interaction research in youth depression—A systematic review with recommendations for future research. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 52, 1223–1238.

  • Egan, M. F., Kojima, M., Callicott, J. H., Goldberg, T. E., Kolachana, B. S., Bertolino, A., … Weinberger, D. R. (2003). The BDNF val66met polymorphism affects activity-dependent secretion of BDNF and human memory and hippocampal function. Cell, 112, 257–269. doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00035-7.

  • Ellis, B. J., Boyce, W. T., Belsky, J., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., & Van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2011). Differential susceptibility to the environment: An evolutionary-neurodevelopmental theory. Development and Psychopathology, 23, 7–28. doi:10.1017/s0954579410000611.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feder, A., Nestler, E. J., & Charney, D. S. (2009). Psychobiology and molecular genetics of resilience. Nature Review Neuroscience, 10, 446–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fröjd, S. A., Nissinen, E. S., Pelkonen, M. U., Marttunen, M. J., Koivisto, A. M., & Kaltiala-Heino, R. (2008). Depression and school performance in middle adolescent boys and girls. Journal of Adolescence, 31, 485–498. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2007.08.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garber, J. (2006). Depression in children and adolescents: Linking risk research and prevention. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 31, S104–S125.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ge, X., Best, K. M., Conger, R. D., & Simons, R. L. (1996). Parenting behaviors and the occurrence and co-occurrence of adolescent depressive symptoms and conduct problems. Developmental Psychology, 32(4), 717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ge, X., Conger, R. D., Lorenz, F. O., & Simons, R. L. (1994a). Parents’ stressful life events and adolescent depressed mood. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 35, 28–44. doi:10.2307/2137333.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ge, X., Lorenz, F. O., Conger, R. D., Elder, G. H., & Simons, R. L. (1994b). Trajectories of stressful life events and depressive symptoms during adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 30, 467–483. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.30.4.467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredson, N. C., Foshee, V. A., Ennett, S. T., Haberstick, B., & Smolen, A. (2014). Genetic heterogeneity in adolescents’ depressive symptoms in response to victimization. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, (ahead-of-print). doi:10.1080/15374416.2014.910787.

  • Graham, J. W. (2009). Missing data analysis: Making it work in the real world. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 549–576. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085530.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Groves, J. O. (2007). Is it time to reassess the BDNF hypothesis of depression? Molecular Psychiatry, 12, 1079–1088. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4002075.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayden, E. P., Klein, D. N., Dougherty, L. R., Olino, T. M., Dyson, M. W., Durbin, C. E., … Singh, S. M. (2010). The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor genotype, parental depression, and relationship discord in predicting early-emerging negative emotionality. Psychological Science, 21, 1678–1685.

  • Hipwell, A., Keenan, K., Kasza, K., Loeber, R., Stouthamer-Loeber, M., & Bean, T. (2008). Reciprocal influences between girls’ conduct problems and depression, and parental punishment and warmth: A six year prospective analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36, 663–677. doi:10.1007/s10802-007-9206-4.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hosang, G. M., Shiles, C., Tansey, K. E., McGuffin, P., & Uher, R. (2014). Interaction between stress and the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Medicine, 12, 7. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.08.022.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hyde, L. W. (2015). Developmental psychopathology in an era of molecular genetics and neuroimging: A developmental neurogenetics appraoch. Developmental Psychopathology, 27, 587–613. doi:10.1017/S0954579415000188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, J. H., & McCutcheon, S. M. (1980). Assessing life stress in older children and adolescents: Preliminary findings with the Life Events Checklist. Stress and Anxiety, 7, 111–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendler, K. S., Gardner, C. O., & Prescott, C. A. (2002). Toward a comprehensive developmental model for major depression in women. American Journal of Psychiatry, 159, 1133–1145.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S. Y., Chen, Q., Li, J., Huang, X., & Moon, U. J. (2009). Parent–child acculturation, parenting, and adolescent depressive symptoms in Chinese immigrant families. Journal of Family Psychology, 23, 426–437.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, I. J., Ge, X., Brody, G. H., Conger, R. D., Gibbons, F. X., & Simons, R. L. (2003). Parenting behaviors and the occurrence and co-occurrence of depressive symptoms and conduct problems among African American children. Journal of Family Psychology, 17, 571–583. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.17.4.571.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S., & Misra, A. (2007). SNP genotyping: technologies and biomedical applications. Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering, 9, 289–320. doi:10.1146/annurev.bioeng.9.060906.152037.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S. Y., Wang, Y., Orozco-Lapray, D., Shen, Y., & Murtuza, M. (2013). Does “tiger parenting” exist? Parenting profiles of Chinese Americans and adolescent developmental outcomes. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 4, 7–18.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, M. (1992). Children’s depression inventory manual: North Tonawanda. New York: Multi-Health Systems. doi:10.1037/t00788-000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan, V., & Nestler, E. J. (2008). The molecular neurobiology of depression. Nature, 455, 894–902. doi:10.1038/nature07455.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuczewski, N., Porcher, C., Lessmann, V., Medina, I., & Gaiarsa, J. L. (2009). Activity-dependent dendritic release of BDNF and biological consequences. Molecular Neurobiology, 39, 37–49.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lenroot, R. K., & Giedd, J. N. (2011). Developmental considerations of gene by envionment interactions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 52, 429–441. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02381.x.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lopizzo, N., Bocchio, C. L., Cattaneo, N., Plazzotta, G., Tarazi, F., Pariante, C. M., et al. (2015). Gene–environment interaction in major depression: Focus on experience-dependent biological systems. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 6, 68. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00068.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martinowich, K., Manji, H., & Lu, B. (2007). New insights into BDNF function in depression and anxiety. Nature Review Neuroscience, 10, 1089–1093. doi:10.1038/nn1971.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mash, E. J., & Hunsley, J. (2005). Evidence-based assessment of child and adolescent disorders: Issues and challenges. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34, 362–379. doi:10.1207/s15374424jccp3403_1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mashoodh, R., Franks, B., Curley, J. P., & Champagne, F. A. (2012). Paternal social enrichment effects on maternal behavior and offspring growth. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109S2, 17232–17238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLeod, B. D., Weisz, J. R., & Wood, J. J. (2007). Examining the association between parenting and childhood depression: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 27, 986–1003. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2007.03.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moffitt, T. E., Caspi, A., & Rutter, M. (2006). Strategy for investigating interactions between measured genes and measured environments. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62, 473–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mullineaux, P. Y., & DiLalla, L. F. (2015). Genetic influences on peer and family relationships across adolescent development: Introduction to the special issue. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44, 1347–1359. doi:10.1007/s10964-015-0306-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Naicker, K., Galambos, N. L., Zeng, Y., Senthilselvan, A., & Colman, I. (2013). Social, demographic, and health outcomes in the 10 years following adolescent depression. Journal of Adolescent Health, 52, 533–538. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.12.016.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Natsuaki, M. N., Ge, X., Brody, G. H., Simons, R. L., Gibbons, F. X., & Cutrona, C. E. (2007). African American children’s depressive symptoms: The prospective effects of neighborhood disorder, stressful life events, and parenting. American Journal of Community Psychology, 39, 163–176.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Notaras, M., Hill, R., & van den Buuse, M. (2015). The BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism as a modifier of psychiatric disorder susceptibility: progress and controversy. Molecular Psychiatry (in press). doi:10.1038/mp.2015.27.

  • Petryshen, T. L., Sabeti, P. C., Aldinger, K. A., Fry, B., Fan, J. B., Schaffner, S. F., … Sklar, P. (2010). Population genetic study of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene. Molecular Psychiatry, 15, 810–815. doi:10.1038/mp.2009.24.

  • Pine, D. S., Cohen, E., Cohen, P., & Brook, J. (1999). Adolescent depressive symptoms as predictors of adult depression: Moodiness or mood disorder? The American Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 133–135. doi:10.1176/ajp.156.1.133.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Polanczyk, G. V., Salum, G. A., Sugaya, L. S., Caye, A., & Rohde, L. A. (2015). Annual Research Review: A meta-analysis of the worldwide prevalence of mental disorders in children and adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 56, 345–365. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12381.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Propper, C., Willoughby, M., Halpern, C. T., Cox, M., & Carbone, M. A. (2007). Parenting quality, DRD4, and the prediction of externalizing and internalizing behaviors in early childhood. Developmental Psychobiology, 49, 619–632.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rice, F. (2014). Genetic influences on depression and anxiety in childhood and adolescence. In Behavior genetics of psychopathology (pp. 67–97). New York: Springer.

  • Roisman, G. I., Newman, D. A., Fraley, R. C., Haltigan, J. D., Groh, A. M., & Haydon, K. C. (2012). Distinguishing differential susceptibility from diathesis-stress: Recommendations for evaluating interaction effects. Development and Psychopathology, 24, 389–409. doi:10.1017/S0954579412000065.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, D. B. (1987). Multiple imputation for nonresponse in surveys. New York: Wiley. doi:10.1002/9780470316696.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Thapar, A., & Pickles, A. (2009). Gene–environment interactions: Biologically valid pathway or artifact? Archives of General Psychiatry, 66, 1287–1289.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schafer, J. (1997). Analysis of incomplete multivariate data. C&H/CRC Monographs on Statistics & Applied Probability,. doi:10.1201/9781439821862.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schafer, J. L., & Graham, J. W. (2002). Missing data: Our view of the state of the art. Psychological Methods, 7, 147–177. doi:10.1037/1082-989x.7.2.147.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shalev, I., Lerer, E., Israel, S., Uzefovsky, F., Gritsenko, I., Mankuta, D., et al. (2009). BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with HPA axis reactivity to psychological stress characterized by genotype and gender interactions. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 34, 382–388. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.09.017.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simons, R. L., Whitbeck, L. B., Beaman, J., & Conger, R. D. (1994). The impact of mothers’ parenting, involvement by nonresidential fathers, and parental conflict on the adjustment of adolescent children. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 56, 356–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L. (2001). We know some things: Parent–adolescent relationships in retrospect and prospect. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 11, 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki, A., Matsumoto, Y., Shibuya, N., Sadahiro, R., Kamata, M., Goto, K., & Otani, K. (2011). The brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism modulates the effects of parental rearing on personality traits in healthy subjects. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 10, 385–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thapar, A., Collishaw, S., Pine, D., & Thapar, A. (2012). Depression in adolescence. The Lancet, 379, 1056–1067.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timbremont, B., Braet, C., & Dreessen, L. (2004). Assessing depression in youth: Relation between the Children’s Depression Inventory and a structured interview. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 33, 149–157.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van IJzendoorn, M., Belsky, J., & Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. (2012). Serotonin transporter genotype 5-HTTLPR as a marker of differential susceptibility? A meta-analysis of child and adolescent gene-by-environment studies. Translational Psychiatry, 2, e147. doi:10.1038/tp.2012.73.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verhagen, M., Van Der Meij, A., Van Deurzen, P. A. M., Janzing, J. G. E., Arias-Vasquez, A., Buitelaar, J. K., & Franke, B. (2010). Meta-analysis of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in major depressive disorder: Effects of gender and ethnicity. Molecular Psychiatry, 15, 260–271. doi:10.1038/mp.2008.109.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y.-C., Chan, H.-Y., Lin, C.-W., & Li, J.-R. (2015). Association of parental warmth and harsh discipline with developmental trajectories of depressive symptoms among adolescents in Chinese society. Journal of Family Psychology,. doi:10.1037/a0039505.

    PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Widaman, K. F., Helm, J. L., Castro-Schilo, L., Pluess, M., Stallings, M. C., & Belsky, J. (2012). Distinguishing ordinal and disordinal interactions. Psychological Methods, 17, 615–622. doi:10.1037/a0030003.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wild, L. G., Flisher, A. J., & Lombard, C. (2004). Suicidal ideation and attempts in adolescents: associations with depression and six domains of self-esteem. Journal of Adolescence, 27, 611–624. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2004.03.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yap, M. B. H., Pilkington, P. D., Ryan, S. M., & Jorm, A. F. (2014). Parental factors associated with depression and anxiety in young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 156, 8–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, H., & Chen, Z. (2011). The role of BDNF in depression on the basis of its location in the neural circuitry. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 32, 3–11.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, W., Cao, Y., Wang, M., Ji, L., Chen, L., & Deater-Deckard, K. (2015). The dopamine D2 receptor polymorphism (DRD2 TaqIA) interacts with maternal parenting in predicting early adolescent depressive symptoms: Evidence of differential suceptibility and age differences. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44, 1428–1440. doi:10.1007/s10964-015-0297-x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (1999). Vulnerability to psychopathology: A biosocial model. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/10316-000.

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31300841). This research was also supported by Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the BeTwiSt of Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Author contributions

LZ performed the statistical analyses; ZL participated in data analyses, and are involved in drafting the manuscript; JC participated in interpretation of the data, and are involved in drafting and revising the manuscript; XL and JZ participated in the design and coordination of the project; Jay Belsky participated in conceiving the study, interpretation of the data and helped to draft the manuscript. LZ, ZL, and JC contributed equally to this work. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China

      Leilei Zhang, Jie Chen, Xinying Li & Jianxin Zhang

    2. Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

      Zhi Li & Jay Belsky

    Authors
    1. Leilei Zhang
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    2. Zhi Li
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    3. Jie Chen
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    4. Xinying Li
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    5. Jianxin Zhang
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    6. Jay Belsky
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Jie Chen.

    Additional information

    Leilei Zhang, Zhi Li, and Jie Chen contributed equally to this work.

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

    Cite this article

    Zhang, L., Li, Z., Chen, J. et al. The BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Interacts with Maternal Parenting Influencing Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: Evidence of Differential Susceptibility Model. J Youth Adolescence 45, 471–483 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0378-x

    Download citation

    • Received:

    • Accepted:

    • Published:

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0378-x

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation