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Culture and cannabinoid receptor gene polymorphism interact to influence the perception of happiness

Author

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  • Masahiro Matsunaga
  • Takahiko Masuda
  • Keiko Ishii
  • Yohsuke Ohtsubo
  • Yasuki Noguchi
  • Misaki Ochi
  • Hidenori Yamasue

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that a cytosine (C) to thymine (T) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the human cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) gene is associated with positive emotional processing. C allele carriers are more sensitive to positive emotional stimuli including happiness. The effects of several gene polymorphisms related to sensitivity to emotional stimuli, such as that in the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5HTTLPR), on emotional processing have been reported to differ among cultures–e.g., between those that are independent and interdependent. Thus, we postulated that the effects of the CNR1 genotype on happiness might differ among different cultures because the concept of happiness varies by culture. We recruited healthy male and female young adults in Japan, where favorable external circumstances determine the concept of happiness, and Canada, where the concept of happiness centers on positive inner feelings, and compared the effects of the CNR1 genotype on both subjective happiness levels (self-evaluation as being a happy person) and situation-specific happiness (happy feelings accompanying various positive events) by using a questionnaire. We found that the effect of CNR1 on subjective happiness was different between the Japanese and Canadian groups. The subjective happiness level was the highest in Japanese individuals with the CC genotype, whereas in Canadian participants, it was the highest in individuals with the TT genotype. Furthermore, the effects of CNR1 genotype on situation-specific happiness were also different between the groups. Happiness accompanied with being surrounded by happy people was the highest among Japanese individuals with the CC genotype, whereas among Canadian individuals, it was the highest in TT genotype carriers. These findings suggest that culture and CNR1 polymorphism interact to influence the perception of happiness.

Suggested Citation

  • Masahiro Matsunaga & Takahiko Masuda & Keiko Ishii & Yohsuke Ohtsubo & Yasuki Noguchi & Misaki Ochi & Hidenori Yamasue, 2018. "Culture and cannabinoid receptor gene polymorphism interact to influence the perception of happiness," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0209552
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209552
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Masahiro Matsunaga & Keiko Ishii & Yohsuke Ohtsubo & Yasuki Noguchi & Misaki Ochi & Hidenori Yamasue, 2017. "Association between salivary serotonin and the social sharing of happiness," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Gerhard Meisenberg & Michael Woodley, 2015. "Gender Differences in Subjective Well-Being and Their Relationships with Gender Equality," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(6), pages 1539-1555, December.
    3. Sonja Lyubomirsky & Heidi Lepper, 1999. "A Measure of Subjective Happiness: Preliminary Reliability and Construct Validation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 137-155, February.
    4. Magnus Johannesson & David I. Laibson & Sarah E. Medland & Michelle N. Meyer & Joseph K. Pickrell & Tõnu Esko & Robert F. Krueger & Jonathan P. Beauchamp & Philipp D. Koellinger & Daniel J. Benjamin &, 2016. "Genetic variants associated with subjective well-being, depressive symptoms, and neuroticism identified through genome-wide analyses," Post-Print hal-02017373, HAL.
    5. Nephi Stella & Paul Schweitzer & Daniele Piomelli, 1997. "A second endogenous cannabinoid that modulates long-term potentiation," Nature, Nature, vol. 388(6644), pages 773-778, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sunitha Singh & Sowmya Kshtriya & Reimara Valk, 2023. "Health, Hope, and Harmony: A Systematic Review of the Determinants of Happiness across Cultures and Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-68, February.
    2. Margot P. Weijer & Dirk H. M. Pelt & Lianne P. Vries & Bart M. L. Baselmans & Meike Bartels, 2022. "A Re-evaluation of Candidate Gene Studies for Well-Being in Light of Genome-Wide Evidence," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 3031-3053, August.

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