Drinking experience uncovers genetic influences on alcohol expectancies across adolescence

Abstract

Aims To test whether drinking onset moderates genetic and environmental contributions to individual differences in the etiology of alcohol expectancies across adolescence. Design Longitudinal twin design. Setting Community sample from Los Angeles, CA, USA. Participants A total of 1292 male and female twins, aged 11–18 years, were assessed at 1 (n = 440), 2 (n = 587) or 3 (n = 265) occasions as part of the risk factors for the Antisocial Behavior Twin Study. Measurements Social behavioral (SB) alcohol expectancies were measured using an abbreviated version of the Social Behavioral subscale from the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire for adolescents (AEQ-A). Drinking onset was defined as >1 full drink of alcohol. Findings Alcohol expectancies increased over age and the increase became more rapid following onset of drinking. The importance of genetic and environmental influences on SB scores varied with age and drinking status, such that variation prior to drinking onset was attributed solely to environmental influences, whereas all post-onset variation was attributed to genetic influences. Results did not differ significantly by sex. Conclusion Only environmental factors explain beliefs about the social and behavioral consequences of alcohol use prior to drinking onset, whereas genetic factors explain an increasing proportion of the variance in these beliefs after drinking onset.

Alcohol misuse in emerging adulthood: Association of dopamine and serotonin receptor genes with impulsivity-related cognition

“…During adolescence, the influence of genetic factors on PAE increases with age, especially after drinking onset, with genetic influence nearly equaling that of shared environmental factors by age 18 (Young-Wolff et al, 2015). However, far less is known about the specific genes involved or how they affect alcohol use and related cognition.…”

Predicting future drinking among young adults: using ensemble machine-learning to combine MRI with psychometrics and behaviour

“…Moreover, the importance of neurobiological versus psychometric and behavioural risk factors may be different before and after alcohol use initiation, and therefore in adolescents versus young adults. For example, alcohol expectancies change over time and specifically after initiation (23,24). Examining a wide range of possible predictors in young adults will help to identify risk factors that could contribute to intervention efforts specifically targeting this population.…”

Validation of the Adolescent Drinking Expectancy Questionnaire and development of a short form

“…Socially related positive alcohol expectancies (e.g. ‘Drinking makes me feel more outgoing’) are strongly associated with the onset and maintenance of alcohol use in an adolescent population . By comparison, adults show elevated positive expectancies across several domains .…”

“…The sample had a history of regular alcohol and polysubstance use and may not be representative of the general adolescent population. The ‘changes in social behaviour’ positive expectancy subscale of the AEQ‐A has been used as a stand‐alone measure , but it has not been independently validated. Given evidence that negative alcohol expectancies also predict adolescent alcohol consumption a brief measure that includes positive and negative expectancies would provide a more comprehensive approach.…”