Relationship of BDNF SNP type and gender disparities in the STEM workforce
| Author(s) | Hadley, Lydia G. | |
| Date Accessioned | 2022-01-12T14:51:12Z | |
| Date Available | 2022-01-12T14:51:12Z | |
| Publication Date | 2020 | |
| SWORD Update | 2021-09-16T22:05:35Z | |
| Abstract | The brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene encodes for the BDNF protein that is essential for the development of the central nervous system. The BDNF gene consists of a common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that produces an amino acid substitution (valine/Val to methionine/Met) which has been shown to have significant morphological effects, with the Met genotype SNP showing lower hippocampal volume and enhanced encoding of negative word feedback, consequently affecting negative emotional memory regulation. Stereotype threat (ST), defined as being at risk of confirming a negative stereotype about one’s group, has been shown to negatively affect performance on math tasks in women. Women in a stressful stereotype threatening condition (i.e., under the impression that men are better than women at math) performed worse on a math task than participants overall. These findings suggest a link between genetic predispositions and environmental factors that engender stress among stigmatized individuals. Given that Met allele carriers encode negative feedback more regularly than Val allele carriers, Met carriers may be more affected by stressful stereotype threatening contexts. STEM-identifying women in the traditionally male dominated STEM environment may already be susceptible to identity threat. This identity threat effect may be exacerbated by the Met allele SNP. The hypothesis of this study was to examine the modulatory effects of BDNF SNP on the gender distribution in the STEM field. Specifically, women with the Met SNP may experience more negative encoding of stereotype threatening situations in the STEM field. Over time, this may be a contributing factor to the amount of women holding positions in the STEM field. ☐ This hypothesis was tested via three levels of analyses; regional, national, and global, that used BDNF data and STEM occupation data to probe for a possible effect from SNP differences. The regional study from our lab did not reveal an effect; however, national and global analyses revealed that as the Val/Val SNP increases in a population, the number of individuals in STEM fields increases. This interaction was stronger specifically for women in the global study. ☐ The results of these analyses point to a relationship between the Val/Val SNP type and an increasing number of individuals in the STEM workforce, with the relationship being the strongest for women in our global study. This observed relationship highlights the gender differences within STEM. Mitigating the stereotype threat in the STEM workforce in areas where there is less of a Val/Val distribution may contribute to equal gender representation in the STEM workforce. | en_US |
| Advisor | Forbes, Chad E. | |
| Degree | M.S. | |
| Department | University of Delaware, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.58088/f3e2-zm52 | |
| Unique Identifier | 1291708080 | |
| URL | https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/29962 | |
| Language | en | |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | en_US |
| URI | https://login.udel.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/relationship-bdnf-snp-type-gender-disparities/docview/2582083315/se-2?accountid=10457 | |
| Keywords | BDNF | |
| Keywords | Memory | |
| Keywords | Single nucleotide polymorphism | |
| Keywords | Stereotype threat | |
| Keywords | Stress | |
| Keywords | Val66Met | |
| Keywords | STEM | |
| Title | Relationship of BDNF SNP type and gender disparities in the STEM workforce | en_US |
| Type | Thesis | en_US |