Gene-environment interplay in the relationship between the visibility of the environment and self-reported depression in early midlife: a Finnish twin cohort study
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Background
Depression is a major public health concern with a complex etiology, which may also be influenced by the living environment. The first-person visibility represents the most direct way of influence from the physical environment.
Objectives
We aim to investigate the effect of the visibility of the environment at the residence on self-reported depression among early midlife adults, as well as underlying gene-environment interplay.
Methods
The study used 1867 participants who completed the early midlife follow-u p (mean age: 37.2 years) of the FinnTwin12 cohort. The visibility of the environment at the residence was segmented into three visibility factors: sky, tree, and building. Linear regression was fitted between visibility factors and self-reported depression. Molecular methods using polygenetic risk score and twin design (univariate modeling and bivariate moderation modeling) were applied to explore the gene-environment correlation and interaction.
Findings
In males, a higher proportion of building visibility factor was associated with more depression (beta: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.36). Univariate twin models estimated that additive genetic factors accounted for 46%, 29%, and 49% of the variance in sky, tree, and building visibility factors, respectively. Bivariate moderation analyses revealed strong gene-environment interactions between all three visibility factors and self-reported depression in females, while in males, interaction was observed by the building visibility factor.
Conclusion
Urban design should consider building density and other related characteristics to promote mental well-being. The complex gene-environment interplay informs the need for tailored interventions that account for genetic susceptibility and processes by which persons select their inhabitats.
