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Drinking or abstaining at age 14? A genetic epidemiological study.
R J Rose1, D M Dick, R J Viken
1Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. rose@indiana.edu
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research
|November 15, 2001
Summary
Early adolescent drinking is influenced by shared environmental factors, not genetics. Predictors include sex, sibling relationships, puberty, and home environment, highlighting the impact of family and behavior on teen alcohol use.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Genetics
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Early initiation of alcohol use by age 14 is a significant risk factor for alcoholism.
- Genetically informative data suggest familial and shared environmental factors are primary drivers of adolescent drinking behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate predictive factors of alcohol abstinence versus use in early adolescents.
- To differentiate between genetic and environmental influences on adolescent drinking.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of three Finnish twin birth cohorts from age 11-12 to age 14.
- Genetic and epidemiological analyses, including twin pair data modeling and logistic regressions.
- Assessment of drinking status, pubertal development, parental monitoring, home atmosphere, and behavioral ratings.
Main Results:
- Common environmental effects accounted for 76% of the variation in adolescent drinking.
- Significant predictors included female sex, opposite-sex sibling, accelerated puberty, reduced parental monitoring, and less supportive home atmosphere.
- Teacher-rated behavioral problems predicted increased drinking, while emotional problems predicted decreased drinking.
Conclusions:
- Shared environmental factors are the primary determinants of adolescent alcohol abstinence or use at age 14.
- Key predictors identified relate to adolescent home environments, behaviors, sibling interactions, and pubertal development.