Epigenetic Dynamics in the Oxytocin System in Childhood 138 views

This dissertation presents the first longitudinal investigation of oxytocin receptor gene methylation (OXTRm) in children, examining its developmental trajectories, relationship to social skills development, and prediction of later socioemotional outcomes. Using a structural equation modeling framework, we characterized OXTRm change across four early childhood timepoints and its parallel growth with parent-reported social skills. Results revealed significant individual variability and non-linear change in OXTRm, with evidence of a biological calibration process where children with more extreme OXTRm levels exhibited potentially compensatory shifts over time. In contrast, social skills development followed more linear, self-reinforcing trajectories, with early advantages leading to continued gains. The Social Skills slope robustly predicted better later socioemotional functioning, whereas OXTRm trajectories were not significantly associated with distal outcomes, and there was no evidence coupling between OXTRm and social skills change within this sample. Findings highlight the importance of longitudinal, developmental perspectives in understanding oxytocinergic processes and their behavioral correlates.

PHD (Doctor of Philosophy)

Oxytocin Receptor Methylation (OXTRm); Epigenetics; Social Development; Latent Growth Curve Modeling; Longitudinal Study; Childhood

English

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2025-07-31