DNA methylation variation after a parenting program for child conduct problems: Findings from a randomized controlled trial

Child Development, vol. 95, pp. 1462–1477

Abstract

This study investigated associations of the Incredible Years (IY) parenting program with children's DNA methylation. Participants were 289 Dutch children aged 3-9 years (75% European ancestry, 48% female) with above-average conduct problems. Saliva was collected 2.5 years after families were randomized to IY or care as usual (CAU). Using an intention-to-treat approach, confirmatory multiple-regression analyses revealed no significant differences between the IY and CAU groups in children's methylation levels at the NR3C1 and FKBP5 genes. However, exploratory epigenome-wide analyses revealed nine differentially methylated regions between groups, coinciding with SLAMF1, MITF, FAM200B, PSD3, SNX31, and CELSR1. The study provides preliminary evidence for associations of IY with children's salivary methylation levels and highlights the need for further research into biological outcomes of parenting programs.

Authors 5

1. Nicole Creasey corresponding

   Erasmus MC · University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam , Rotterdam ,

   Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam ,

   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

   Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2. Patty H. O. Leijten

   University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam ,

   Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

3. Marieke S. Tollenaar Aachen Institute of Psychology and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition Institute of Psychology & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition Leiden University Leiden the Netherlands

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Psychology & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University , Leiden ,

   Institute of Psychology & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

4. Marco P. Boks Aachen Institute of Psychology and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition Institute of Psychology & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition Leiden University Leiden the Netherlands

   Leiden University · Utrecht University · University Medical Center Utrecht

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht , Utrecht ,

   Institute of Psychology & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University , Leiden ,

   Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

   Institute of Psychology & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

5. Geertjan J. Overbeek

   University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam ,

   Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands