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Association of MAOA-uVNTR Polymorphism with Subjective Well-Being in Men

  • Human Genetics
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Abstract

Quality of life and one’s subjective evaluation of one’s own happiness and well-being are the conventional focus of psychology and sociology. However, a genetic factor has recently been found to affect the subjective evaluation of well-being. The contribution of heredity to a personal level of happiness and life satisfaction has been estimated at 30–50% in twin studies. Individual genes associated with these traits have been identified, but the available data are rather discrepant. In this work, alleles of the monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) were tested for association with well-being components, such as happiness, health, dangers of living environment, and stress, in Russian men. Trait assessments were based on questionnaires filled out as part of the World Values Survey. It is shown that, among the uVNTR-3R allele carriers, the proportion of men who have high levels of stress, feel unhappy, and live in unsafe environments is lower. The results are discussed in the context of the gene plasticity concept, which provides a possible explanation for how expression of genes related to behavior changes in different environmental conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia

    A. S. Gureev, E. D. Ananieva, A. V. Rubanovich & S. A. Borinskaya

  2. National Research University Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg, 192171, Russia

    R. F. Inglehart & E. D. Ponarin

  3. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, United States

    R. F. Inglehart

Authors
  1. A. S. Gureev
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  2. E. D. Ananieva
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  3. A. V. Rubanovich
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  4. R. F. Inglehart
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  5. E. D. Ponarin
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  6. S. A. Borinskaya
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Correspondence to S. A. Borinskaya.

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Original Russian Text © A.S. Gureev, E.D. Ananieva, A.V. Rubanovich, R.F. Inglehart, E.D. Ponarin, S.A. Borinskaya, 2018, published in Genetika, 2018, Vol. 54, No. 5.

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Gureev, A.S., Ananieva, E.D., Rubanovich, A.V. et al. Association of MAOA-uVNTR Polymorphism with Subjective Well-Being in Men. Russ J Genet 54, 562–567 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1022795418050058

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1022795418050058

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