Family history of alcohol use disorder and stress-reactivity

Family history of alcohol use disorder (FHA) is posited to convey its risk on problematic drinking partly through how individuals react to stressful situations. Research thus far has found equivocal results, with some studies concluding that FHA is associated with heightened stress-reactivity and others finding FHA associated with blunted stress-reactivity. In addition, the preponderance of this research has been conducted using laboratory-based paradigms, raising questions about the ecological validity of the findings. The purpose of the current study was to further clarify the association between FHA and affective reactions to two types of stress (social and academic stress) using an ecologically valid, intensive-longitudinal research design.

Participants were 1,606 undergraduate students (54% women) who completed a baseline survey, including questions related to family history of alcohol use, and who subsequently completed a 30-day daily diary reporting on their daily stress and affective states.

Results showed a weaker positive association between social stress and anxiety and depressive affect among individuals with more paternal alcohol use disorder symptoms, consistent with a blunted stress-reactivity perspective.

The results add to the current literature, providing a direction for future research to continue to clarify the nature of FHA and stress-reactivity.