The OXTR rs53576 impacts moral permissibility of attempted but failed harms in populations of students and prisoners.

Previous research has highlighted the roles of oxytocin in empathy and altruistic behaviors. Based on these findings, recent studies have examined the association between the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and outcome-based moral judgment with sacrificial dilemmas (e.g. runaway trolley case). However, little is known about the relationships between OXTR polymorphisms and intent-based moral judgment of harms (e.g. attempted but failed harm or intentionally committed harm). This study investigated the association between the OXTR rs53576 and intent-based moral judgment in college students (N = 544) and prisoners (N = 540). Results indicated that both students and prisoners with the GG genotype of OXTR rs53576 rated attempted but failed harm as less permissible than those with the AA and AG genotypes. These findings highlight the role of the OXTR gene in intent-based moral judgment.

OXTR moderates adverse childhood experiences on depressive symptoms among incarcerated males.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the moderation of an oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene in the link between childhood adversity and depressive symptoms among incarcerated males. METHODS: Questionnaires about adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms, as well as genomic DNA from blood were collected among 608 incarcerated males (Mage = 32.4 years, SD = 9.41, 18-74 years). Moderation analysis was applied to examine the interaction between adverse childhood experiences (including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction) and the OXTR polymorphisms (rs2254298, rs53576) in predicting depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Incarcerated males had relatively higher prevalence of childhood adversity (70.2%) and depressive symptoms (49.8%). Higher childhood adversity was associated with increased depressive symptoms, and the effect was more pronounced in the GG homozygotes of OXTR rs2254298 (b = 0.406, p < .001), as compared with the AA/AG carriers (b = 0.236, p < .001). By contrast, the OXTR rs53576 did not interact with childhood adversity in predicting depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese incarcerated males with the GG genotype of OXTR rs2254298 have higher vulnerability in the effect of childhood adversity on depressive symptoms.