Childhood Maltreatment Effects on the Serotonin Transporter Gene and Its Relation to Anxiety and Depression

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment is a major public health concern and represents one of the strongest environmental risk factors associated with the development of psychological disorders, including depression and anxiety. Increasing evidence suggests that genetic susceptibility may influence individual responses to adverse childhood experiences. The serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) contains a functional length polymorphism in its promoter region, known as 5-HTTLPR, which affects serotonin transporter expression and has been implicated in emotional regulation, stress response, anxiety, and depression, particularly among individuals exposed to childhood adversity. This study aimed to investigate the association between childhood maltreatment and symptoms of depression and anxiety among young adults. Additionally, the study explored the relationship between childhood maltreatment and family-related factors, including parental marital status and socioeconomic and educational conditions during childhood, within the context of genetic vulnerability associated with the serotonin transporter system. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 65 randomly selected participants (30 males and 35 females) aged 20–30 years in Misurata, Libya, from 21 June to 6 July 2023. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire to assess the severity of childhood maltreatment. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and anxiety symptoms were assessed using a self-report questionnaire. Associations between childhood maltreatment, psychological outcomes, and demographic variables were analyzed. Childhood maltreatment was significantly associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety among participants. However, no significant association was observed between childhood maltreatment and parental marital status or the family's educational and economic status during childhood. Childhood maltreatment is strongly associated with depression and anxiety symptoms in young adults. These findings support the importance of considering both environmental adversity and genetic susceptibility factors, including serotonin transporter gene variation (5-HTTLPR), in understanding individual differences in vulnerability to stress-related psychological disorders.