Variation in the mu-Opioid Receptor Gene (OPRM1) Does Not Moderate Social-Rejection Sensitivity in HumansShow others and affiliations
2019 (English)In: Psychological Science, ISSN 0956-7976, E-ISSN 1467-9280, Vol. 30, no 7, p. 1050-1062Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Given previous findings from animal studies and small-scale studies in humans, variation in the mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) has been proposed as a strong biological candidate for moderating sensitivity to social rejection. Using a substantially larger sample (N = 490) than previous studies, a prospective genotyping strategy, and preregistered analysis plans, we tested the hypotheses that OPRM1 variation measured by the functional A118G polymorphism (rs1799971) moderates (a) dispositional sensitivity to rejection and feelings of distress following social exclusion and (b) decision making involving social cognition. In three experimental tasks commonly used to assess altruism, reciprocity, and trust in humans, we found no evidence in favor of the hypotheses; nine main tests were preregistered, and all of them yielded small and statistically insignificant estimates. In secondary analyses, we used Bayesian inference and estimation to quantify support for our findings. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that the link between OPRM1 A118G variation and social-rejection sensitivity is weaker than previously thought.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC , 2019. Vol. 30, no 7, p. 1050-1062
Keywords [en]
exclusion; social pain; genetics; OPRM1; decision making; open data; open materials; preregistered
National Category
Psychology (excluding Applied Psychology)
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-159269DOI: 10.1177/0956797619849894ISI: 000476525400007PubMedID: 31180793OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-159269DiVA, id: diva2:1341151
Note
Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council [2013-7434]; Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation [2014.0187]; Royal Swedish Academy of Science [2019-00849]; Ragnar and Torsten Soderberg Foundation; AFA Forsakring; Karolinska Institutet-Stockholm County Council research collaboration
2019-08-072019-08-072021-12-28