The Impact of the COMT Val158Met Polymorphism and Personality Traits on Social Responsiveness in Healthy Adolescents

Background:  Autistic traits like deficits in social reciprocity are continuously distributed in the general population. Geneti, biological and psychological backgrounds of these traits in neurotypical individuals are still not well understood. Dopaminergic gene variants were reported to have an influence on prosocial behaviours. 

Objectives: To investigate the potential role of a dopaminergic candidate polymorphism, the COMT Val158Met SNP for social reciprocity alongside with personality traits and internalizing problems.

Methods: 469 adolescents from a large international sample were genotyped for and assessed with the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), and the Strengths and Differences Questionnaire (SDQ). An analysis of variance and a hierarchical multiple regression model were calculated to test the impact of COMT, personality and internalizing problems on social responsiveness. 

Results:  Carriers of at least one Val allele showed   significantly lower SRS scores (p=.008) compared to those without a Val allele, indicating less social impairment in Val carriers. Also agreeableness and extraversion were negatively related to SRS scores, while for neuroticism and emotional problems, a positive association was found. All predictors together explained 20.6% of the variance of the SRS total score. Conclusions: Results suggest that the Val allele, representing catabolism of dopamine, alongside with personality dimensions is  related to social reciprocity in healthy populations

Conclusions: Results suggest that the Val allele, representing catabolism of dopamine, alongside with personality dimensions is  related to social reciprocity in healthy populations.