Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Youth and Adolescence 10/2023

20-07-2023 | Empirical Research

Perceived Parental Support and Psychological Control, DNA Methylation, and Loneliness: Longitudinal Associations Across Early Adolescence

Auteurs: Yentl Koopmans, Stefanie A. Nelemans, Guy Bosmans, Wim Van Den Noortgate, Karla Van Leeuwen, Luc Goossens

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Youth and Adolescence | Uitgave 10/2023

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Abstract

A broad range of factors have been associated with the development of adolescent loneliness. In the family context, a lack of parental support and high levels of parental psychological control have systematically been linked to loneliness. On the biological level, DNA methylation (which is an epigenetic process that suppresses gene expression) is believed to play a role in the development of loneliness. Specifically, high levels of DNA methylation in genes that play an important role in the functioning of the human stress response system are believed to elevate the risk of loneliness. Moreover, DNA methylation levels in these stress-related genes can be influenced by stressful environmental factors, suggesting a potential mediating role of DNA methylation in the association between parenting behaviors and loneliness. The current 3-year longitudinal study is the first study to examine the potential bidirectional longitudinal associations between loneliness, DNA methylation in stress-related genes, and both perceived parental support and psychological control. Furthermore, we explored the potential mediating role of DNA methylation in stress-related genes in the associations between perceived parenting and loneliness. The sample comprised 622 early adolescents (55% girls, Mage T1 = 10.77 years, SDage T1 = 0.48) who were followed from Grade 5 to 7. Parental support, psychological control, and loneliness were assessed annually by adolescent self-report questionnaires and DNA methylation was determined from saliva samples. Cross-Lagged Panel Models (CLPM) revealed that higher levels of loneliness predicted lower perceived parental support and higher perceived psychological control over time, as well as higher DNA methylation in some stress-related genes, that is, the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In addition, higher NR3C1 methylation was predictive of lower perceived parental support and higher psychological control over time. No evidence was found for a mediating role of DNA methylation. Overall, our longitudinal findings challenge the current focus on DNA methylation and parenting behaviors as risk factors for adolescent loneliness. Instead, they suggest that the less considered direction of effects, which implies that loneliness predicts DNA methylation and aspects of parenting such as support and psychological control, should receive greater attention in future research.
Bijlagen
Alleen toegankelijk voor geautoriseerde gebruikers
Voetnoten
1
Due to missingness on some of the Wave 1 study variables, the MANOVA results are based on the data of 242 participants who dropped out over the course of the study and 265 participants who did not.
 
2
The detailed results of these analyses can be requested from the first author.
 
Literatuur
go back to reference Cacioppo, J. T., Ernst, J. M., Burleson, M. H., McClintock, M. K., Malarkey, W. B., Hawkley, L. C., Kowalewski, R. B., Paulsen, A., Hobson, J. A., Hugdahl, K., Spiegel, D., & Berntson, G. G. (2000). Lonely traits and concomitant physiological processes: The MacArthur social neuroscience studies. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 35(2–3), 143–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8760(99)00049-5CrossRefPubMed Cacioppo, J. T., Ernst, J. M., Burleson, M. H., McClintock, M. K., Malarkey, W. B., Hawkley, L. C., Kowalewski, R. B., Paulsen, A., Hobson, J. A., Hugdahl, K., Spiegel, D., & Berntson, G. G. (2000). Lonely traits and concomitant physiological processes: The MacArthur social neuroscience studies. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 35(2–3), 143–154. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​S0167-8760(99)00049-5CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Doan, S. N., Tardif, T., Miller, A., Olson, S., Kessler, D., Felt, B., & Wang, L. (2017). Consequences of ‘tiger’ parenting: A cross-cultural study of maternal psychological control and children’s cortisol stress response. Developmental Science, 20(3), e12404. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.12404CrossRef Doan, S. N., Tardif, T., Miller, A., Olson, S., Kessler, D., Felt, B., & Wang, L. (2017). Consequences of ‘tiger’ parenting: A cross-cultural study of maternal psychological control and children’s cortisol stress response. Developmental Science, 20(3), e12404. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1111/​desc.​12404CrossRef
go back to reference Eckhardt, F., Lewin, J., Cortese, R., Rakyan, V. K., Attwood, J., Burger, M., Burton, J., Cox, T. V., Davies, R., Down, T. A., Haefliger, C., Horton, R., Howe, K., Jackson, D. K., Kunde, J., Koenig, C., Liddle, J., Niblett, D., Otto, T., & Beck, S. (2006). DNA methylation profiling of human chromosomes 6, 20 and 22. Nature Genetics, 38(12), 1378–1385. https://doi.org/10.1038/NG1909CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Eckhardt, F., Lewin, J., Cortese, R., Rakyan, V. K., Attwood, J., Burger, M., Burton, J., Cox, T. V., Davies, R., Down, T. A., Haefliger, C., Horton, R., Howe, K., Jackson, D. K., Kunde, J., Koenig, C., Liddle, J., Niblett, D., Otto, T., & Beck, S. (2006). DNA methylation profiling of human chromosomes 6, 20 and 22. Nature Genetics, 38(12), 1378–1385. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1038/​NG1909CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Fachim, H. A., Corsi-Zuelli, F., Loureiro, C. M., Iamjan, S. A., Shuhama, R., Joca, S., Menezes, P. R., Heald, A., Louzada-Junior, P., Dalton, C. F., Del-Ben, C. M., & Reynolds, G. P. (2021). Early-life stress effects on BDNF DNA methylation in first-episode psychosis and in rats reared in isolation. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 108, 110188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110188CrossRef Fachim, H. A., Corsi-Zuelli, F., Loureiro, C. M., Iamjan, S. A., Shuhama, R., Joca, S., Menezes, P. R., Heald, A., Louzada-Junior, P., Dalton, C. F., Del-Ben, C. M., & Reynolds, G. P. (2021). Early-life stress effects on BDNF DNA methylation in first-episode psychosis and in rats reared in isolation. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 108, 110188. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​j.​pnpbp.​2020.​110188CrossRef
go back to reference Goossens, L. (Ed.). (2016). Leuvense eenzaamheidsschaal voor kinderen en adolescenten: Handleiding [Loneliness and aloneness scale for children and adolescents]. Acco Goossens, L. (Ed.). (2016). Leuvense eenzaamheidsschaal voor kinderen en adolescenten: Handleiding [Loneliness and aloneness scale for children and adolescents]. Acco
go back to reference Kline, R. B. (2005). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (2nd ed.). Guilford Press Kline, R. B. (2005). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (2nd ed.). Guilford Press
go back to reference Koopmans, Y., Nelemans, A. S., Claes, S., Bijttebier, P., Van den Noortgate, W., Van Leeuwen, K., & Goossens, L. (2022). DNA methylation and parenting as joint predictors of the development of loneliness in early adolescence. Unpublished manuscript Koopmans, Y., Nelemans, A. S., Claes, S., Bijttebier, P., Van den Noortgate, W., Van Leeuwen, K., & Goossens, L. (2022). DNA methylation and parenting as joint predictors of the development of loneliness in early adolescence. Unpublished manuscript
go back to reference Langie, S. A. S., Moisse, M., Declerck, K., Koppen, G., Godderis, L., Vanden Berghe, W., Drury, S., & De Boever, P. (2017). Salivary DNA methylation profiling: Aspects to consider for biomarker identification. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 121(S3), 93–101. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcpt.12721CrossRef Langie, S. A. S., Moisse, M., Declerck, K., Koppen, G., Godderis, L., Vanden Berghe, W., Drury, S., & De Boever, P. (2017). Salivary DNA methylation profiling: Aspects to consider for biomarker identification. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 121(S3), 93–101. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1111/​bcpt.​12721CrossRef
go back to reference Lewis, C. R., Breitenstein, R. S., Henderson, A., Sowards, H. A., Piras, I. S., Huentelman, M. J., Doane, L. D., & Lemery-Chalfant, K. (2021). Harsh parenting predicts novel HPA receptor gene methylation and NR3C1 methylation predicts cortisol daily slope in middle childhood. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 41(4), 783–793. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10571-020-00885-4CrossRefPubMed Lewis, C. R., Breitenstein, R. S., Henderson, A., Sowards, H. A., Piras, I. S., Huentelman, M. J., Doane, L. D., & Lemery-Chalfant, K. (2021). Harsh parenting predicts novel HPA receptor gene methylation and NR3C1 methylation predicts cortisol daily slope in middle childhood. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 41(4), 783–793. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​S10571-020-00885-4CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998–2017). Mplus user’s guide (8th ed.). Muthén & Muthén Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998–2017). Mplus user’s guide (8th ed.). Muthén & Muthén
go back to reference Nelson, D. A., & Crick, N. R. (2002). Parental psychological control: Implications for childhood physical and relational aggression. In B. K. Barber (Ed.), Intrusive parenting: How psychological control affects children and adolescents (pp. 168–189). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10422-006 Nelson, D. A., & Crick, N. R. (2002). Parental psychological control: Implications for childhood physical and relational aggression. In B. K. Barber (Ed.), Intrusive parenting: How psychological control affects children and adolescents (pp. 168–189). American Psychological Association. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1037/​10422-006
go back to reference Overbeek, G., Creasey, N., Wesarg, C., Huijzer-Engbrenghof, M., & Spencer, H. (2020). When mummy and daddy get under your skin: A new look at how parenting affects children’s DNA methylation, stress reactivity, and disruptive behavior. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2020(172), 25–38. https://doi.org/10.1002/CAD.20362 Overbeek, G., Creasey, N., Wesarg, C., Huijzer-Engbrenghof, M., & Spencer, H. (2020). When mummy and daddy get under your skin: A new look at how parenting affects children’s DNA methylation, stress reactivity, and disruptive behavior. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2020(172), 25–38. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1002/​CAD.​20362
go back to reference Perlman, D., & Peplau, L. A. (1981). Toward a social psychology of loneliness. In R. Gilmour & S. Duck (Eds.), Personal relationships in disorder (Vol. 3, pp. 31–56). Academic Press Perlman, D., & Peplau, L. A. (1981). Toward a social psychology of loneliness. In R. Gilmour & S. Duck (Eds.), Personal relationships in disorder (Vol. 3, pp. 31–56). Academic Press
go back to reference Ouellet-Morin, I., Wong, C. C., Danese, A., Pariante, C. M., Papadopoulos, A. S., Mill, J., & Arseneault, L. (2013). Increased serotonin transporter gene (SERT) DNA methylation is associated with bullying victimization and blunted cortisol response to stress in childhood: A longitudinal study of discordant monozygotic twins. Psychological Medicine, 43(9), 1813–1823. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291712002784CrossRefPubMed Ouellet-Morin, I., Wong, C. C., Danese, A., Pariante, C. M., Papadopoulos, A. S., Mill, J., & Arseneault, L. (2013). Increased serotonin transporter gene (SERT) DNA methylation is associated with bullying victimization and blunted cortisol response to stress in childhood: A longitudinal study of discordant monozygotic twins. Psychological Medicine, 43(9), 1813–1823. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1017/​S003329171200278​4CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Siuda, D., Wu, Z., Chen, Y., Guo, L., Linke, M., Zechner, U., Xia, N., Reifenberg, G., Kleinert, H., Forstermann, U., & Li, H. (2014). Social isolation-induced epigenetic changes in midbrain of adult mice. Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 65(2), 247–255PubMed Siuda, D., Wu, Z., Chen, Y., Guo, L., Linke, M., Zechner, U., Xia, N., Reifenberg, G., Kleinert, H., Forstermann, U., & Li, H. (2014). Social isolation-induced epigenetic changes in midbrain of adult mice. Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 65(2), 247–255PubMed
go back to reference Ulman, J. B. (2013). Structural equation modeling. In B. G. Tabachnik & L. S. Fidell (Eds.), Using multivariate statistics (6th ed., pp. 681–785). Pearson Education Ulman, J. B. (2013). Structural equation modeling. In B. G. Tabachnik & L. S. Fidell (Eds.), Using multivariate statistics (6th ed., pp. 681–785). Pearson Education
go back to reference Unternaehrer, E., Meier, M., Bouvette-Turcot, A., & Hari Dass, S. A. (2021). Chapter 6. Long-term epigenetic effects of parental caregiving. In L. Provenzi & R. Montirosso (Eds.), Developmental human behavioral epigenetics. Elsevier Unternaehrer, E., Meier, M., Bouvette-Turcot, A., & Hari Dass, S. A. (2021). Chapter 6. Long-term epigenetic effects of parental caregiving. In L. Provenzi & R. Montirosso (Eds.), Developmental human behavioral epigenetics. Elsevier
go back to reference Unternaehrer, E., Meyer, A. H., Burkhardt, S. C., Dempster, E., Staehli, S., Theill, N., Lieb, R., & Meinlschmidt, G. (2015). Childhood maternal care is associated with DNA methylation of the genes for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) in peripheral blood cells in adult men and women. Stress, 18(4), 451–461. https://doi.org/10.3109/10253890.2015.1038992CrossRefPubMed Unternaehrer, E., Meyer, A. H., Burkhardt, S. C., Dempster, E., Staehli, S., Theill, N., Lieb, R., & Meinlschmidt, G. (2015). Childhood maternal care is associated with DNA methylation of the genes for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) in peripheral blood cells in adult men and women. Stress, 18(4), 451–461. https://​doi.​org/​10.​3109/​10253890.​2015.​1038992CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Van Leeuwen, K., & Vermulst, A. (2010). De verkorte versie van de Schaal voor Ouderlijk Gedrag [Shortened version of the Parental Behavior Scale]. Internal report, not published. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Van Leeuwen, K., & Vermulst, A. (2010). De verkorte versie van de Schaal voor Ouderlijk Gedrag [Shortened version of the Parental Behavior Scale]. Internal report, not published. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
go back to reference Weaver, I. C. G., Cervoni, N., Champagne, F. A., D’Alessio, A. C., Sharma, S., Seckl, J. R., Dymov, S., Szyf, M., & Meaney, M. J. (2004). Epigenetic programming by maternal behavior. Nature Neuroscience, 7(8), 847–854. https://doi.org/10.1038/NN1276 Weaver, I. C. G., Cervoni, N., Champagne, F. A., D’Alessio, A. C., Sharma, S., Seckl, J. R., Dymov, S., Szyf, M., & Meaney, M. J. (2004). Epigenetic programming by maternal behavior. Nature Neuroscience, 7(8), 847–854. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1038/​NN1276
go back to reference Ziegler, C., Dannlowski, U., Bräuer, D., Stevens, S., Laeger, I., Wittmann, H., Kugel, H., Dobel, C., Hurlemann, R., Reif, A., Lesch, K. P., Heindel, W., Kirschbaum, C., Arolt, V., Gerlach, A. L., Hoyer, J., Deckert, J., Zwanzger, P., & Domschke, K. (2015). Oxytocin receptor gene methylation: Converging multilevel evidence for a role in social anxiety. Neuropsychopharmacology, 40(6), 1528–1538. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2015.2CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Ziegler, C., Dannlowski, U., Bräuer, D., Stevens, S., Laeger, I., Wittmann, H., Kugel, H., Dobel, C., Hurlemann, R., Reif, A., Lesch, K. P., Heindel, W., Kirschbaum, C., Arolt, V., Gerlach, A. L., Hoyer, J., Deckert, J., Zwanzger, P., & Domschke, K. (2015). Oxytocin receptor gene methylation: Converging multilevel evidence for a role in social anxiety. Neuropsychopharmacology, 40(6), 1528–1538. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1038/​npp.​2015.​2CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Metagegevens
Titel
Perceived Parental Support and Psychological Control, DNA Methylation, and Loneliness: Longitudinal Associations Across Early Adolescence
Auteurs
Yentl Koopmans
Stefanie A. Nelemans
Guy Bosmans
Wim Van Den Noortgate
Karla Van Leeuwen
Luc Goossens
Publicatiedatum
20-07-2023
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Youth and Adolescence / Uitgave 10/2023
Print ISSN: 0047-2891
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-6601
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01822-6

Andere artikelen Uitgave 10/2023

Journal of Youth and Adolescence 10/2023 Naar de uitgave