Psychogenetic Predictors of Resilience in Youth: Internet Addiction Symptoms and the Role of the Val158Met Polymorphism of the COMT Gene

Background. In the context of increasing uncertainty and information overload in modern society, the study of resilience as an internal factor mediating the success of overcoming stress and adapting to a changing reality is becoming relevant. Of particular interest is the study of the biological prerequisites of resilience, in particular the Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene, associated with the regulation of dopaminergic activity and individual differences in cognitive and emotional regulation.

Objectives. To study the relationship between resilience and Internet addiction in modern youth and to consider the role of the Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene and individual symptoms of Internet addiction in the formation of individual differences in the level of resilience.

Study Participants. The study involved 193 participants aged 18 to 25 years (Mage = 19.37; SD = 2.1; 85% women), students majoring in the humanities.

Methods. The Russian version of the Maddi's Hardiness Test, adapted by Osin, was used to assess resilience, Chen's scale adapted by Malygin and Feklisov was used to measure internet addiction, and the Information Behavior Strategies method was used to study information behavior. Genotyping of the Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene was performed using the PCR method.

Results. Genotype at the Val158Met polymorphism in the COMT gene was shown to predict differences in resilience after accounting for the influence of information behavior intensity and internet addiction symptom severity. Regression analysis also revealed an interaction between the genotype and indicators of destructive information behavior strategies and internet addiction symptoms.

Conclusions. The study allows us to conclude that the association between the COMT genotype and resilience manifests in the context of specific behavioral and psychological factors related to internet use.

References

Abakumova, I.V., Yermakov, P.N., Denisova, Ye.G., Kupriyanov, I.V. (2021). Genetic predictors of destructive and constructive forms of youth digital behavior. Mediko-biologicheskiye i sotsial'no-psikhologicheskiye problemy bezopasnosti v chrezvychaynykh situatsiyakh = Medico-biological and socio-psychological problems of safety in emergency situations, 3, 101–107. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.25016/2541-7487-2021-0-3-101-107

Abakumova, I., Grishina, A., Zvezdina, G. (2022). Psychological predictors of students' behavior in internet under information uncertainty. International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science. Engineering and Education (IJCRSEE), 10(3), 17–26. https://doi.org/10.23947/2334-8496-2022-10-3-17-26

Ayorech, Z., Baldwin, J.R., Pingault, J.-B., Rimfeld, K., Plomin, R. (2023). Gene-environment correlations and genetic confounding underlying the association between media use and mental health. Scientific Reports, 13, 1030. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-25374-0

Bogdan, M.S. (2024). Developing resilience among Internet-active youth as a resource for overcoming life difficulties. Gumanitarnye nauki = Humanities, 4(68), 125–131. (In Russ.)

Bulygina, V.G., Isangalieva, I.M., Peeva, O.D., Remeeva, A.F., Lysenko, N.E. (2023). Modern research on the neural foundations of moral decision-making. Psihologiya i parvo = Psychology and Law, 13(2), 110–126. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2023130209

Drozdova, N.V., Asmankina, E.E. (2023). Features of resilience in adolescence. Problemy sovremennogo pedagogicheskogo obrazovaniya = Problems of Modern Teacher Education, (78-1), 312–316. (In Russ.)

Faustova, A.G. (2023). The genesis of psychological resilience: nature vs nurture. Lichnost' v menyayushchemsya mire: zdorov'e, adaptaciya, razvitie = Personality in a Changing World: Health, Adaptation, Development, 11(1), 7–20. (In Russ.)

Golovey, L.A., Galasheva, O.S. (2023). The role of social support and resilience in the socio-psychological adaptation of boys and girls. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Psychology, 13(4), 509-522. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu16.2023.405

Hidalgo-Fuentes, S., Martí-Vilar, M., Ruiz-Ordoñez, Y. (2023). Problematic Internet Use and Resilience: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nursing Reports, 13, 337–350. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep13010032

Kukhtinskaya, L.V., Zuraev, A.V., Budevich, V.A., Mosse, I.B. (2016). Modern ideas about the genetic determinants of human psychoemotional stability. Molekulyarnaya i prikladnaya genetika = Molecular and Applied Genetics, 20, 96-109. (In Russ.)

Malygin, V.L., Feklisov, K.A., Iskandirova, A.B., Antonenko, A.A. (2011). Methodological approaches to early detection of Internet-dependent behavior. Medicinskaya psihologiya v Rossii: elektronnyj nauchnyj zhurnal = Medical Psychology in Russia: Electronic Scientific Journal, 6. (In Russ.). URL: https://medpsy.ru/mprj/archiv_global/2011_6_11/nomer/nomer03.php (accessed: 03.11.2026).

Nam, C., Lee, D., Lee, J., Choi, A., Chung, S. et al. (2018). The Role of Resilience in Internet Addiction among Adolescents between Sexes: A Moderated Mediation Model. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 7, 222.

Osin, E.N. (2013). The factor structure of the short version of the resilience test. Organizacionnaya psihologiya = Organizational psychology, 3(3), 42–60. (In Russ.)

Peng, C., Wang, M., Cheng, J., Tan, Y., Huang, Y. et al. (2021). Mediation of Internet addiction on association between childhood maltreatment and suicidal behaviours among Chinese adolescents. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 30, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796021000524

Ramos, A.M., Griffin, A.M., Neiderhiser, J.M., Reiss, D. (2019). Did I Inherit My Moral Compass? Examining Socialization and Evocative Mechanisms for Virtuous Character Development. Behavior Genetics, 49, 175–186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-018-09945-4

Rean, A.A., Shevchenko, A.O., Stavtsev, A.A., Linkov, A.L. (2024). Positive neuroscience is an analysis of research directions for a new integrative approach. Russian Psychological Journal, 21(3), 250–263. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21702/rpj.2024.3.14

Suroedova, E.A., Davydova, M.A., Grishina, A.V. (2023), Young people and the Internet: subjective factors in choosing online behavior strategies. Psychological Journal, 20(3), 29–47. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21702/rpj.2023.3.2

Tereshchenko, S.Yu., Smolnikova, M.V. (2020). Neurobiological risk factors for the formation of Internet addiction in adolescents: current hypotheses and immediate prospects. Social'naya psihologiya i obshchestvo = Social Psychology and Society, 11(1), 55–71. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/sps.2020110104

van Gils, Y., Dom, G., Dierckx, E., Van Alphen, S.P.J., Franck, E. (2022). Resilience, depression and anxiety and hazardous alcohol use behaviour among community dwelling older adults. Aging & mental health, 26(1), 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1870211

van Rooij, S.J.H., Stevens, J.S., Ely, T.D., Fani, N., Smith, A.K. et al. (2016). Childhood trauma and COMT genotype interact to increase hippocampal activation in resilient individuals. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 7(156). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00156

Wu, Y., Sang, Z., Zhang, X-C., Margraf, J. (2020). The Relationship Between Resilience and Mental Health in Chinese College Students: A Longitudinal Cross-Lagged Analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 11:108. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00108

Zeer, E.F. (2015). Socio-psychological aspects of the development of vitality and the formation of human resilience. Pedagogicheskoe obrazovanie v Rossii = Pedagogical Education in Russia, (8), 69–76. (In Russ.)