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Overlapping genetic and environmental influences among men's alcohol consumption and problems, romantic quality and social support

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2015

J. E. Salvatore ,
E. Prom-Wormley ,
C. A. Prescott  and
K. S. Kendler
J. E. Salvatore*
Affiliation:
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980126, Richmond, VA 23298-0126, USA
E. Prom-Wormley
Affiliation:
Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980212, Richmond, VA 23298-0212, USA
C. A. Prescott
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, 3620 S. McClintock Avenue, SGM Rm 501, MC-1061, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1061, USA
K. S. Kendler*
Affiliation:
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980126, Richmond, VA 23298-0126, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: J. E. Salvatore and K. S. Kendler, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980126, Richmond, VA 23298-0126, USA. (Email: [email protected]) [J.E.S.] (Email: [email protected]) [K.S.K.]
*Address for correspondence: J. E. Salvatore and K. S. Kendler, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980126, Richmond, VA 23298-0126, USA. (Email: [email protected]) [J.E.S.] (Email: [email protected]) [K.S.K.]
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Abstract

Background

Alcohol consumption and problems are associated with interpersonal difficulties. We used a twin design to assess in men the degree to which genetic or environmental influences contributed to the covariance between alcohol consumption and problems, romantic quality and social support.

Method

The sample included adult male–male twin pairs (697 monozygotic and 487 dizygotic) for whom there were interview-based data on: alcohol consumption (average monthly alcohol consumption in the past year); alcohol problems (lifetime alcohol dependence symptoms); romantic conflict and warmth; friend problems and support; and relative problems and support.

Results

Key findings were that genetic and unique environmental factors contributed to the covariance between alcohol consumption and romantic conflict; genetic factors contributed to the covariance between alcohol problems and romantic conflict; and common and unique environmental factors contributed to the covariance between alcohol problems and friend problems.

Conclusions

Recognizing and addressing the overlapping genetic and environmental influences that alcohol consumption and problems share with romantic quality and other indicators of social support may have implications for substance use prevention and intervention efforts.

Keywords

Alcoholgene-environment correlationmarital qualitysocial support
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 45 , Issue 11 , August 2015 , pp. 2353 - 2364
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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