The interaction between the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) variable number tandem repeat polymorphism and perceived peer drinking norms in adolescent alcohol use and misuse

Abstract

Peer drinking norms are arguably one of the strongest correlates of adolescent drinking. Prospective studies indicate that adolescents tend to select peers based on drinking (peer-selection) and their peers’ drinking is associated with changes in adolescent drinking over time (peer socialization). The present study investigated whether the peer selection and socialization processes in adolescent drinking differed as a function of the DRD4 VNTR genotype in two independent prospective datasets. The first sample was 174 high school students drawn from a 2-wave 6-month prospective study. The second sample was 237 college students drawn from a 3-wave annual prospective study. Multigroup cross-lagged panel analyses of the high school student sample indicated stronger socialization via peer drinking norms among carriers, whereas analyses of the college student sample indicated stronger drinking-based peer selection in the junior year among carriers, compared to non-carriers. Although replication and meta-analytic synthesis are needed, these findings suggest in part genetically determined peer-selection (carriers of the DRD4 7-repeat allele tend to associate with peers who have more favorable attitudes toward drinking and greater alcohol use) and peer socialization (carriers’ subsequent drinking behaviors are more strongly associated with their peer drinking norms) may differ across adolescent developmental stages.

A systematic review: Candidate gene and environment interaction on alcohol use and misuse among adolescents and young adults

“…31 A similar interaction effect was reported in a study of young Caucasian adults 22 : As involvement with fraternities and sororities increased at ages 18-21, those carrying the DRD4 long allele reported more alcohol dependence symptoms across their four years of college than those carrying the short allele. Similarly, when adolescents reported a higher perception of peer drinking and peer approval of drinking, DRD4 7-repeat allele carriers drank more frequently than non-carriers 32 ; in this study, this pattern of result was replicated across two independent samples at mean ages of 15 (mixed races) and 19 (Caucasians). An experimental study of Caucasian college students with a mean age of 21 33 also found that 7-repeat allele carriers consumed more alcohol in the presence of a heavy drinking confederate than in the presence of non-drinking or light drinking confederates; the association was significantly weaker among non-carriers.…”

Gender Differences in Relations among Perceived Family Characteristics and Risky Health Behaviors in Urban Adolescents

“…Data for this study were collected as part of the first assessment in a prospective, community-based study of 250 adolescents (29,30). Adolescents were recruited from both school and community venues.…”

Interaction Between the μ‐Opioid Receptor Gene and the Number of Heavy‐Drinking Peers on Alcohol Use

“…The current study focused upon OPRM1 -based peer socialization, eliminating peer selection effects through random assignment of young adults into peer environments regardless of genotype. Research suggests peer selection differences as a function of OPRM1 (Chassin et al, 2012) and other risk genotypes (e.g., Park et al, 2016). OPRM1 -based differences in young adults’ tendency to associate with alcohol-promoting peers, and whether these differences may in part underlie existing G×E interaction findings, remain unknown.…”