Genetic factors and early parent-infant interactions shape Instagram users' social behaviour

The interaction between parental care and oxytocin receptor gene affect social behaviours in adulthood. Serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and early parent-infant interaction influence adults’ relationship with intimate partners. However, human conspecifics socially act towards the real and virtual world in displaying multiple and complex social interactions. Hence, the mechanisms underlying the virtual social relationship in humans remain largely unknown. This research investigates how the interaction between genetic factors (three polymorphisms from the oxytocin receptor, OXTR, and the serotonin transporter, 5-HTTLPR), parental bonding patterns (PBI) and adults’ interactional patterns (ASQ, ECR-R) shape Instagram virtual social behaviour. We hypothesized that adult Instagram users with a genetic risk factor and exposed to a negative social environment will show an enhanced virtual social activity compared to less vulnerable genetic carriers. To this purpose, self-reported questionnaires were used to evaluate participants’ (n = 57; 17 males) parental bonding patterns (Parental Bonding Instrument, formed by four subscales Maternal Care-Paternal Care-Maternal Overprotection-Paternal Overprotection), interactional patterns towards peers (Attachment Style Questionnaire formed by five subscales Confidence-Discomfort in Intimacy-Relationship as Secondary-Need for Approval-Worry about Relationship) and the quality of bond with intimate partners (Experience in Close Relationship Scale formed by two subscales Anxiety-Avoidance). Instagram activities were collected applying an automatic Python algorithm through which four indexes were extracted: number of followings, followers, published posts and tags from other users’ posts. To assess participants’ genetic predispositions, buccal mucosa cell samples were collected, and regions OXTR/rs2254298 (G/G homozygotes vs. A carriers), OXTR/rs53576 (A/A homozygotes vs. G carriers) and 5-HTTLPR/rs255331 (G/G homozygotes vs. A carriers) were genotyped. We expect that the main potential effects on the Instagram measured variables and on a “Social Recognition Index” (Followers/Following ratio) could represent an indirect pathway through which genes and parental behaviour interact to shape social media interactions.