@article{3f729d4328cb4be9b1849793a2dc016a,
title = "Oxytocin system gene methylation is associated with empathic responses towards children",
abstract = "Empathy is an essential component of sensitive caregiving behavior, which in turn is an important predictor of children's healthy social-emotional development. The oxytocin (OXT) system plays a key role in promoting sensitive parenting and empathy. In this study, we investigated how OXT system gene methylation was associated with empathic processes in nulliparous women (M age = 23.60, SD =0.44)—measuring both physiological facial muscle responses and ratings of compassion and positive affect to affective images depicting children. Linear mixed effects analyses demonstrated that lower methylation levels in the OXT and OXTR genes were related to enhanced empathic responses. The effect of OXT system gene methylation on empathic processes was partly qualified by an interaction with individual variations in women's care motivation. Our findings provide experimental evidence for an association between the methylation of OXT system genes and empathy.",
keywords = "DNA methylation, Empathy, Facial EMG, Oxytocin",
author = "Hannah Spencer and {Parianen Lesemann}, {Franca H.} and Kraaijenvanger, {Eline J.} and Geertjan Overbeek and Montoya, {Estrella R.} and Susan Branje and Boks, {Marco P.M.} and Bos, {Peter A.}",
note = "Funding Information: This research was supported in part by a grant from the Netherlands Society of Scientific Research ( 451-14-015 ) and a Dynamics of Youth seed grant from Utrecht University to PAB. Data from the RADAR study were used. RADAR has been financially supported by main grants from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (GB-MAGW 480-03-005 , GB-MAGW 480-08-006 ), and Stichting Achmea Slachtoffer en Samenleving ( SASS ), a grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research to the Consortium Individual Development (CID; 024.001.003 ), and various other grants from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, the VU University Amsterdam , and Utrecht University. GO was supported by a grant ( 016.vici.185.063 ) from the Netherlands Society of Scientific Research. SB was supported by a grant from the European Research Council (ERC-CoG INTRANSITION-773023 ). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors",
year = "2022",
month = mar,
doi = "10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105629",
language = "English",
volume = "137",
pages = "1--10",
journal = "Psychoneuroendocrinology",
issn = "0306-4530",
publisher = "Elsevier Limited",
}