ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION
The Role of Personality and Biological Factors in Protecting
Adolescents from the Effects of Environmental Risk Factors
By
Julia Dmitrieva
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Ecology
University of California, Irvine, 2006
Professor Ellen Greenberger, Chair
Professor Chuansheng Chen, Co-Chair
Although much theorized about, the findings of person  gene  environment
interactions are rare. This study evaluated the person  environment, gene 
environment, and person  gene aspect of this interaction in relation to adolescent
antisocial behavior. Major theories of adolescent delinquency emphasize the role of low
self-control (e.g., impulsivity and emotional lability) in antisocial behavior. These and
related personality traits are presumed to interact (in a synergistic manner) with social
context. This study proposed and tested a hypothesis that the nature of the interaction
between low self-control and social context is such that low self-control is not related to
antisocial behavior in low risk contexts. The study sample consisted of 324 14-17 yearold participants from Russia. In order to increase the power for finding interaction
effects, recruitment focused on inclusion of youths with a wide range of exposure to
contextual risk factors. Results supported the first hypotheses (i.e., the person 
environment hypothesis) for impulsivity and, in part, for active coping, disengagement
coping, anger, behavioral activation, and behavioral inhibition. The second hypothesis
tested the role of dopamine receptor 4 gene (DRD4) in explaining low self-control and
delinquent behavior. Results showed that individuals with the 7-repeat allele were more
likely to have high trait anger when living in a context of high peer delinquency or
exposure to violence. Furthermore, higher anger was more strongly linked to antisocial
behavior for these individuals. Results for the 2- and 3-repeat alleles indicated their
protection function. The 2-repeat allele protected youths from the effects of various
adverse social contexts on antisocial behavior. The 3-repeat was also protective in the
context of negative life events but not for other contexts. Implications for future studies
are discussed.