Genomic and Environmental factors of Resilience to Early-life Stress

Early life stress (ELS), ranging from prenatal to postnatal challenges such as household dysfunction and child maltreatment, often co-occurs and affects over 60% of individuals worldwide, leading to adverse outcomes like psychosocial difficulties. However, individual responses to ELS vary, with some exhibiting remarkable resilience, such as maintaining high functioning or gradually improving. The GENRES project aims to uncover how genetic and environmental factors interact to foster resilience in individuals exposed to ELS. Using data from four large-scale population-based cohorts, GENRES will identify resilient developmental trajectories from childhood to adolescence and adulthood across emotional, behavioural, and cognitive functions. The project will analyse polygenic profiles (based on multiple polygenic scores) and environmental profiles (derived from multi-systemic family and social factors) that contribute to resilient trajectories (e.g., recovering or competent). Differential susceptibility effects will be tested, focusing on how sex, genetic predisposition, and temperament interact to influence individuals respond differently to environments, both negative and positive. The findings from each cohort will be integrated through meta-analysis, offering a comprehensive understanding of resilience to ELS across diverse populations and contexts. By bridging genetic and psychosocial research, the project will also contribute to a broader understanding of resilience, reducing stigma and shifting the focus from individual blame to systemic support. The outcomes of GENRES will inform public health strategies and interventions tailored to individual genetic profiles and resilience-promoting environments. Executing this project at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics will enhance my interdisciplinary expertise and support the development of innovative approaches to study resilience, thereby improving health and well-being for those exposed to ELS.