Life satisfaction in the new country: a multilevel longitudinal analysis of effects of culture and 5-HTT allele frequency distribution in country of origin

Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2015 Jan;10(1):50-4. doi: 10.1093/scan/nsu036. Epub 2014 Feb 13.

Abstract

Life satisfaction of migrants to Australia from 17 countries, assessed at 4-5 months, 16-17 months and 3½ years after arrival, was analyzed with a longitudinal, multilevel analysis. The results indicated that migrants were more satisfied, if the national average life satisfaction was higher in their country of origin, after adjustment for individual-level income, age, and sex and a linear temporal trend. Simultaneously, the migrants were also happier if people in their country of origin had a higher frequency of 5-HTT long allele, a genotype known to be associated with resilience under life stresses. These two relationships were independent, suggesting that both culture and gene matter in international transitions.

Keywords: culture-gene co-evolution; life satisfaction; migrants; serotonin transporter gene.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Alleles
  • Australia
  • Culture*
  • Emigrants and Immigrants / psychology*
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Income
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Personal Satisfaction*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Resilience, Psychological
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Sex Factors
  • Stress, Psychological / genetics
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology

Substances

  • SLC6A4 protein, human
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins