Testing gene by community disadvantage moderation of sexual health outcomes among urban women

Abstract

We examined whether the interplay between community disadvantage and a conduct disorder polygenic risk score (CD PRS) was associated with sexual health outcomes among urban women. Participants (N = 511; 75.5% African American) were originally recruited to participate in a school-based intervention and were followed into adulthood. Community disadvantage was calculated using census data when participants were in first grade. At age 20, blood or saliva samples were collected and participants reported on their condom use, sexual partners, and sexually transmitted infections. A CD PRS was created based on a genome-wide association study conducted by Dick et al. [2010]. Higher levels of community disadvantage was associated with greater sexually transmitted infections among women with a higher CD PRS. Implications of the study findings are discussed.