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Perceived peer delinquency and the genetic predisposition for substance dependence vulnerability
Tanya M M Button1, Michael C Stallings, Soo Hyun Rhee
1Institute for Behavioral Genetics, Campus Box 447, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States. tanya.button@colorado.edu
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|November 15, 2008
Summary
Peer affiliation influences adolescent substance dependence vulnerability. Genetic risks are highest with very delinquent or non-delinquent peers, while environmental risks increase with peer delinquency.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Genetics
- Adolescent Psychology
- Substance Use Disorders
Background:
- Adolescent substance dependence has complex origins, involving genetic and environmental factors.
- Heritability estimates for substance dependence vulnerability are around 0.40.
- The role of peer context in moderating these risks is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if peer delinquency affiliation modifies the genetic and environmental etiology of substance dependence vulnerability (DV).
- To examine how perceived peer group delinquency impacts the contributions of genetic, shared, and non-shared environmental risks to DV.
Main Methods:
- Assessed adolescent-perceived affiliation with delinquent peers.
- Calculated substance dependence vulnerability (DV) based on lifetime symptom counts and number of substances used.
- Analyzed the moderation effects of peer affiliation on genetic, shared environmental, and non-shared environmental risk variances.
Main Results:
- Peer affiliation significantly moderated the genetic, shared, and non-shared environmental contributions to DV.
- Genetic variance was highest in adolescents with least delinquent and most delinquent peer affiliations.
- Environmental influences (shared and non-shared) were minimal with least delinquent peers and increased with higher peer delinquency.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent peer group context plays a crucial role in shaping the etiology of substance dependence vulnerability.
- Both genetic and environmental risk factors for substance dependence are context-dependent, influenced by peer delinquency levels.
- Understanding these moderating effects is key for targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
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