Familial and personality correlates of alcohol-related problems

Family history of alcohol abuse and personality characteristics measured by the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC), two factors that have been associated with the development and expression of alcoholism in clinical populations, were examined in a nonclinical, putatively normal sample. Analyses revealed that although family history positive subjects (FHP) drank as much and as often as family history negative subjects (FHN), the FHP subjects experienced significantly more alcohol-related problems. Consistent with previous findings with clinical samples, both family history of alcohol abuse and the MAC were associated with increased alcohol-related problems in a nonclinical sample. Furthermore, family history of alcohol abuse and the MAC appeared to be measuring relatively independent factors associated with alcohol abuse.