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Racial/ethnic discrimination, ADH1B*3, and coping-motivated drinking among Black college students
Michelle J Zaso1, Jueun Kim2, Jessica M Desalu3
1Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo-The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA.
Racial/ethnic discrimination among Black college students was not associated with alcohol use differences based on the ADH1B*3 gene variant. However, negative life events consistently predicted coping-motivated drinking and higher alcohol consumption.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Health
- Sociology
- Psychology
Background:
- Racial/ethnic discrimination is a significant stressor for Black college students, linked to negative health and alcohol outcomes.
- Genetic factors may influence individual susceptibility to using alcohol as a coping mechanism for discrimination-related stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene variant (ADH1B*3) modifies the relationship between racial/ethnic discrimination and coping drinking motives and alcohol use in Black college students.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 241 Black college students at a predominantly White university.
- Data collection included saliva samples for ADH1B*3 genotyping, self-reported discrimination experiences, coping drinking motives, and past-month alcohol quantity.
Main Results:
- The association between discrimination and alcohol use (directly or via coping motives) did not differ based on the ADH1B*3 genotype.
- Negative life events were associated with increased coping drinking motives, which in turn were linked to greater alcohol consumption, irrespective of ADH1B*3 status.
Conclusions:
- The study found no evidence of gene-environment interplay between ADH1B*3 and racial/ethnic discrimination concerning alcohol use in this population.
- Coping-motivated drinking linked to general negative life events was observed in Black college drinkers, independent of the ADH1B*3 genotype.
- Future research should employ longitudinal designs to explore the dynamic interplay of genetics, stress, and coping-motivated drinking over time.
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