Abstract
Introduction. In the context of the rapid development of digital technologies, the study of both psychological aspects of constructive and destructive forms of digital behavior and their neurobiological underpinnings has become increasingly relevant. These underpinnings include genetic factors that determine individual differences in motivation for Internet use. Objective. To analyze the frequency of allelic variants of genes of the dopaminergic system (DRD2, COMT) and the neurotrophic factor gene (BDNF) in young people with different digital behavior strategies.
Methods. The study involved 193 respondents aged 18–25 years (M = 19.37; SD = 2.1; 85% female), students enrolled in humanities programs. Digital behavior was assessed using the Digital Behavior Strategies questionnaire (Abakumova et al., 2021). Genotyping was performed using allele-specific real-time PCR for the BDNF (rs6265), COMT (rs4680), and DRD2 (rs1800497) genes. Statistical analysis included k-means cluster analysis, the Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test and Dunn’s post hoc pairwise comparisons.
Results. Carriers of different genotypes demonstrated significant differences in the expression of specific motives for Internet use. The BDNF Val/Val genotype was associated with higher scores on information-seeking motives; the COMT Val/Val genotype was linked to increased expression of radical ideas; and carriers of the DRD2 CT variant showed higher levels of self-presentation and community participation. Cluster analysis identified three behavioral profiles—passive users, constructively engaged users, and destructively engaged users—which differed in the frequency of allelic variants of the studied genes.
Conclusion. The findings confirm the presence of associations between polymorphisms of dopaminergic system genes and BDNF and different strategies of digital behavior among young people, indicating the important role of genetic factors in the formation of constructive and destructive patterns of Internet use.
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