Exploring the role of OXTR gene methylation in attachment development: A longitudinal study

Dev Psychobiol. 2024 Jul;66(5):e22496. doi: 10.1002/dev.22496.

Abstract

The current study explored longitudinally whether oxytocin receptor gene methylation (OXTRm) changes moderated the association between parental sensitivity changes and children's attachment changes over three waves. Six hundred six Flemish children (10-12 years, 42.8%-44.8% boys) completed attachment measures and provided salivary OXTRm data on seven CpG sites. Their parents reported their sensitive parenting. Results suggest that OXTRm changes hardly link to attachment (in)security changes after the age of 10. Some support was found for interaction effects between parental sensitivity changes and OXTRm changes on attachment changes over time. Effects suggest that for children with increased OXTRm in the promotor region and decreased methylation in the inhibitor region over time, increased parental sensitivity was associated with increased secure attachment and decreased insecure attachment over time.

Keywords: attachment; hormones; parental care.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child Development / physiology
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Object Attachment*
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Parenting
  • Receptors, Oxytocin* / genetics

Substances

  • Receptors, Oxytocin
  • OXTR protein, human