Family history of alcoholism and childhood adversity: joint effects on alcohol consumption and dependence

Empirical studies provide substantial evidence that having a family history of alcoholism increases the risk of developing alcohol dependence; however, some of this effect may be caused by nonspecific childhood socioeconomic adversity common in families with an alcohol-dependent parent. In this study, we examine joint effects of family history and childhood adversity within a sample of 509 men and 217 women over age 40. The measures analyzed were included in routine screening assessments for participants in various studies at the University of Michigan Alcohol Research Center. About 60% of the men and 45% of the women were alcohol-dependent. About 30% reported an alcoholic parent. Degree of family history affected drinking behavior for both men and women. There were also environmental effects on the same measures for both men and women. Childhood socioeconomic adversity was reported more frequently by participants with an alcoholic parent, but adversity effects were also shown for those with a negative family history. The risk of alcohol dependence was additively increased by a positive family history and childhood socioeconomic adversity. The environmental effects identified in this study are promising evidence for nonspecific factors that moderate family history risk for development of alcohol problems.