On the basis of DST and vantage sensitivity perspectives, we examined whether the DRD4 7-repeat genotype moderated association patterns linking interparental relationships to adolescent internalizing problems. Among adolescents who were DRD4 7+, but not for those who were 7−, perception of interparental positivity was linked to lower threat appraisals. Furthermore, 7+ adolescents were also relatively unaffected by interparental conflict compared to 7− adolescents. This result is contrary to DST, which posits sensitivity for both positivity and negativity, but it is consistent with vantage sensitivity (Pluess & Belsky, 2013). It is currently unclear, however, whether sensitivity due to DRD4 is domain general or domain specific, although accumulating research points to domain specificity (e.g., Bakermans-Kranenburg & van IJzendoorn, 2011; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Van IJzendoorn, Mesman, et al., 2008; Belsky & Pluess, 2013; Knafo et al., 2011). These studies and the findings reported herein support the possibility that adolescents who are DRD4 7+ may be relatively more sensitive to environmental positivity than negativity, consistent with vantage sensitivity.
