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Experimental Psychology (Russia)
2025. Vol. 18, no. 4, 211–227
doi:10.17759/exppsy.2025180413
ISSN: 2072-7593 / 2311-7036 (online)

Genotypes of polymorphic loci of BDNF and COMT genes as factors of frustration reactions

 
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Abstract

Context and Relevance. Individual differences in coping intelligence and emotional regulation are shaped by genetic factors. However, the relationship between BDNF (rs6265) and COMT (rs4680) gene polymorphisms and frustration reactions has not been fully elucidated. The theoretical foundation was provided by evidence demonstrating the impact exerted by these genetic markers on emotional regulation and the adoption of adaptive strategies. Objective. The influence exerted by BDNF (rs6265) and COMT (rs4680) genotypes on the selection of reaction type and directionality in frustrating situations among Russian adults was identified. Hypothesis. It was hypothesized that the directionality of frustration reactions (extrapunitive, intrapunitive, impunitive) and the level of group conformity in behavioral strategy selection are determined by BDNF and COMT genotypes. Methods and materials. A cohort of 254 adults (aged 19—54 years; 48% male; 90% university-educated) was enrolled. Genotyping of BDNF and COMT was performed using PCR methodology. Frustration reactions were assessed by means of an adapted Russian version of the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Study (Yasyukova, 2018). Statistical analyses were conducted by applying general linear modeling in IBM SPSS 28. Results. A significantly lower propensity for extrapunitive reactions (F = 4.01, p = 0.018, η² = 0.032) and a higher propensity for impunitive reactions (F = 4.507, p = 0.012, η² = 0.035) were demonstrated by carriers of the BDNF Val/Val genotype. Low group conformity was associated with the COMT G/G genotype (F = 4.305, p = 0.015, η² = 0.034). No statistically significant interaction between BDNF and COMT genotypes was observed. Conclusions. Non-confrontational frustration reactions were associated with the Val/Val alleles of BDNF and the G/G alleles of COMT. The neurobiological determination of coping behavior was confirmed.

General Information

Keywords: frustration, genetic markers, BDNF, COMT, stress reactions, coping intelligence

Journal rubric: Psychophysiology

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2025180413

Funding. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 23-18-00293, https://rscf.ru/project/23-18-00293/.

Acknowledgements. The authors thank the study participants for their voluntary participation in the study in order to promote the development of science.

Received 16.07.2025

Revised 22.11.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Varlamov, A.V., Volkova, E.V., Kuvaeva, I.O., Volkova, N.E., Dokuchaev, D.A. (2025). Genotypes of polymorphic loci of BDNF and COMT genes as factors of frustration reactions. Experimental Psychology (Russia), 18(4), 211–227. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2025180413

© Varlamov A.V., Volkova E.V., Kuvaeva I.O., Volkova N.E., Dokuchaev D.A., 2025

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Andrey V. Varlamov, Candidate of Science (Psychology), Junior Researcher, Druzhinin Laboratory of Psychology of Abilities and Mental Resources, Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IP RAS), Specialist, Center for Practical Psychology, Ryazan State Medical University named after academician I.P. Pavlov, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6144-6036, e-mail: var-lam1998@yandex.ru

Elena V. Volkova, Doctor of Psychology, Head of the Laboratory of Psychology of Abilities and Mental Resources named after V.N. Druzhinin, Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3809-3639, e-mail: volkovaev@ipran.ru

Irina O. Kuvaeva, Candidate of Science (Psychology), Researcher, Druzhinin Laboratory of Psychology of Abilities and Mental Resources, Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IP RAS), Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5451-0725, e-mail: irina.kuvaeva@urfu.ru

Natalya E. Volkova, Junior Researcher at the Laboratory of the Psychology of Abilities and Mental Resources, Institute of Psychology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6225-6288, e-mail: volkovane@ipran.ru

Denis A. Dokuchaev, Head of the Laboratory of Complex Psychophysiology, Center for Career Guidance and Pre-University Education “Pro-PSY”, Moscow State University of psychology and education, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3432-0056, e-mail: dokuchaevda@ipran.ru

Contribution of the authors

Andrey V. Varlamov — conducting an experiment, collecting and formatting scientific data, writing and formatting a manuscript; data analysis; visualization of research results.

Elena V. Volkova — research ideas; annotation; application of statistical, mathematical and other methods to analyze data; collection and analysis of data; supervision of the study.

Irina O. Kuvaeva — research ideas; annotation, research planning, conducting an experiment, collecting and presenting scientific data, monitoring the conduct of the research.

Natalia E. Volkova — conducting an experiment, collecting and presenting scientific data.

Denis A. Dokuchaev — conducting an experiment, collecting and presenting scientific data.

All authors participated in the discussion of the results and approved the final text of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethics statement

The study was reviewed and approved by the local ethics committee of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education Ural State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (report No. 5, 2023/06/16).

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