ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the influences of genes on personality and posttraumatic adjustment in trauma-exposed youth. It reviews major personality constructs relevant for understanding: risk for traumatic event exposure and the development of psychopathology following traumatic event exposure in children and adolescents. The chapter also provides recommendations for researchers interested in incorporating personality in child and adolescent trauma research. Many of the molecular genetic studies of posttrauma psychopathology have focused on the dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) systems, and most of these studies have been conducted using adult populations. Traumatic event exposure increases risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and personality constructs may confer risk for the development of posttrauma psychopathology. A wealth of evidence supports contributions of both environment and genetics in shaping personality development over the course of childhood and adolescence.
