Genetically influenced externalizing and internalizing risk pathways as novel prevention targets.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Personalized Medicine

Background:

• Risky substance use is prevalent among college students, leading to adverse outcomes.
• Current interventions primarily target current substance use, potentially missing underlying causes.
• A personalized medicine approach, focusing on individual risk factors, may enhance prevention and intervention effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an online Personalized Feedback Program (PFP) for college students.
• To shift intervention focus from current substance use to underlying genetically influenced risk factors.
• To provide personalized risk information and recommendations for improved self-regulation of health.

Main Methods:

• Leveraged data from the "Spit for Science" (S4S) project (>12,000 students).
• Identified key risk factors (Sensation Seeking, Impulsivity, Extraversion, Neuroticism) correlated with substance use.
• Developed an online, self-guided PFP in collaboration with student affairs professionals and student feedback.

Main Results:

• Identified four key risk factor domains (Sensation Seeking, Impulsivity, Extraversion, Neuroticism) associated with college student substance use.
• Developed a foundational online Personalized Feedback Program (PFP).
• The PFP is designed to complement existing college substance use programs.

Conclusions:

• Personalized risk information offers a novel approach to complement and extend current college substance use interventions.
• The PFP aims to motivate students by informing them about their unique risk profiles.
• Future randomized clinical trials are planned to assess the PFP's efficacy.