Relations Of The Polymorphisms Testosterone-related Genes And Testosterone Levels With Romantic Attachment

Romantic attachment refers to psychological secure feelings between partners,manifested as attachment dispositions in everyday life and attachment responses in dialogues.It has been found that testosterone levels are involved in the formation and stability of romantic relationship.However,the relationships between attachment dispositions of couples and testosterone levels were still under-investigated.Furthermore,the association of attachment responses in romantic relationship interactions with testosterone levels was also under-examined.Thus,in this study we investigated the relationships of romantic attachment dispositions and responses with the polymorphisms of testosterone-related genes and testosterone levels.1.The relationships of romantic attachment dispositions with polymorphisms of testosterone-related genes and testosterone levels.(1)The relationships of romantic attachment dispositions with polymorphisms of testosterone-related genes: We recruited 532 individuals in romantic relationship and measured the individuals' attachment dispositions with the Experiences in Close Relationships(ECR).The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was performed to differential the individuals according to the rs523349 of SRD5A2,rs700518 of CYP19A1,and rs727428 of SHBG,and then the relationships between such polymorphisms and romantic attachment dispositions were examined.Results showed that rs727428 was associated with dispositional attachment anxiety(p = 0.036),individuals with the GG genotype showed lower attachment anxiety as compared with those with the AA genotype.However,significant correlation for dispositional attachment avoidance was absent(p = 0.777).Moreover,we did not find significant associations of the rs523349 of SRD5A2 and rs7005189 of CYP19A1 with dispositional attachment anxiety(ps ? 0.723)and attachment avoidance(ps ? 0.090).(2)The relationship between romantic attachment dispositions and testosterone levels: We assessed attachment dispositions with ECR for 292 individuals who have in love and measured testosterone levels with enzyme-linked immunosorbent method,and then examined the relationships between testosterone levels and romantic attachment dispositions.Results showed that testosterone levels in salvia were not related to individuals' dispositional attachment anxiety(p = 0.320)and avoidance(p = 0.900).2.The relationships of romantic attachment responses with the polymorphisms of testosterone-related genes and testosterone levels.(1)The relationships of romantic attachment response and polymorphisms of testosteronerelated genes: Basing on the conflict dialogues and restoration dialogues of 112 couples,we encoded romantic attachment responses and examined the relationships of testosterone-related genes with romantic attachment response with the “Actor-partner independence” model.Results showed that the rs523349 of SRD5A2,rs700518 of CYP19A1,and rs727428 of SHBG were not related to attachment anxiety response(“actor effect”: ps ? 0.379 and “partner effect”: ps ? 0.269)and attachment avoidant response(“actor effect”: ps ? 0.708 and “partner effect”: ps ? 0.269)in conflict.Similarly,the associations were not significant in relationship restoration(“actor effect”: ps ? 0.114 and “partner effect”: ps ? 0.208 for attachment anxiety response;“actor effect”: ps ? 0.285 and “partner effect”: ps ? 0.263 for attachment avoidant response).(2)The relationships between romantic attachment response and testosterone levels: Basing on the conflict dialogues and restoration dialogues of 112 couples,we measured testosterone levels prior-and post-conflict and prior-and post-restoration dialogue,the relationships between testosterone levels and attachment responses were examined with the “ Actor-partner independence” model.Results showed that testosterone levels prior-and post-conflict were not related to attachment anxiety response and avoidant response in conflict(“actor effect”: ps ? 0.237 and “partner effect”: ps ? 0.116).However,the change of prior-and post-conflict testosterone levels was related to attachment anxiety response in the conflict(“actor effect”: p = 0.045 and “partner effect”: p = 0.318).By contrast,the change in testosterone levels priorand post-conflict was not related to attachment avoidance response(“actor effect”: p = 0.119,and “partner effect”: p = 0.089).Moreover,neither testosterone levels prior to restoration dialogue,nor the change of testosterone levels prior-and post-restoration dialogues was related to attachment anxiety response and avoidance response of in restoration dialogue(“actor effect” : ps ? 0.066 and “partner effect” : ps ? 0.062).In summary,we found that the polymorphism of SHBG is related to dispositional attachment anxiety,and the changing of testosterone levels prior-and post-conflict is related to attachment anxiety response in conflict.Thus,the findings suggest that testosterone-related genes are involved in anxiety disposition,while testosterone levels are involved in anxiety response in romantic conflict.