5HTT genotype moderates the influence of early institutional deprivation on emotional problems in adolescence: evidence from the English and Romanian Adoptee (ERA) study
Researchers used ERA data from 125 participants exposed to early institutional deprivation to examine whether variation in the serotonin transporter gene and later stressful events were associated with adolescent emotional problems. Emotional problems were assessed by questionnaire at age 11 and diagnostic interview at age 15. Associations between severe deprivation and emotional problems differed by genotype. Among participants with one genotype, more stressful events were associated with larger increases in emotional problems.
Limitations: This is an observational candidate-gene analysis in a relatively small cohort exposed to extreme institutional deprivation. Associations do not establish causation or support individual genetic prediction. The abstract does not specify who supplied the questionnaire or interview evidence; these measures should not be described as direct adoptee testimony. Publications from the ERA programme use overlapping participants; separate publications are not independent samples.
- Research type
- Longitudinal cohort study
- Source reviewed
- Abstract
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Age group
- Adolescents
Study context and review
Age group as recorded: adolescents
Adoption context: Intercountry adoption after institutional deprivation; UK domestic adoptee comparison group
Programme: English and Romanian Adoptees Study
Institutional context: No relationship identified in the material checked
No adoption-sector organisational relationship identified from metadata reviewed. Funding and conflicts were not comprehensively audited; this is not confirmation of institutional independence.
Bibliographic screening. Bibliographic relationships are not a bias or safety rating.
Topics: genetics, institutional deprivation, longitudinal research, mental health
Review scope: Source checked: Abstract. This does not imply full-text or independent human verification.
Country as recorded: England / Romania (adopted into UK families)
- Funding
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Commissioner
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Funder role
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Declared conflicts
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Recruitment
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Adoptee involvement
- Not yet checked for this entry
Entry: study_0b863c360cf5324b