The interplay between polygenic susceptibility and discrimination on depressive symptoms: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the interplay between perceived discrimination and polygenic propensity on depressive symptoms cross-sectionally and longitudinally. METHOD: = 4950). Perceived discrimination (2010-11) and depressive symptoms (CES-D, 2010-17) were assessed. Depressive symptoms polygenic scores (PGS) were calculated using summary statistics from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium. Linear-mixed models were used to investigate associations. RESULTS: = 0.778). No significant interactions between discrimination and PGS were observed for baseline or later depressive symptoms, suggesting that the relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms was not moderated by genetic risk. CONCLUSION: Perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms PGS were related to depressive symptomology. However, there was no interaction between these variables on depressive symptoms at baseline or longitudinally. This suggests that perceived discrimination and genetic risk operate independently to influence depressive symptomology.