Research Report

Tests of the effects of adolescent early alcohol exposures on adult outcomes

Corresponding Author

Daniel E. Irons

Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Correspondence to: Daniel Irons, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 East River Read, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author

William G. Iacono,

William G. Iacono

Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Search for more papers by this author

Matt McGue,

Matt McGue

Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

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Daniel E. Irons,

Corresponding Author

Daniel E. Irons

Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Correspondence to: Daniel Irons, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 East River Read, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author

William G. Iacono,

William G. Iacono

Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Search for more papers by this author

Matt McGue,

Matt McGue

Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 23 September 2014

https://doi.org/10.1111/add.12747

Citations: 33

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Abstract

Aims

To determine whether early adolescent alcohol use contributes to adult alcohol use, misuse and other adult substance-related and social outcomes.

Design

In a longitudinal study of twins assessed at target ages 11, 14 and 24 years, two techniques adjusted for confounding factors: a propensity score (PS) adjusting for the effects of measured background covariates and co-twin control (CTC) adjusting for confounding by unmeasured (including genetic) factors shared within early alcohol exposure-discordant pairs.

Setting

The community-based Minnesota Twin Family Study.

Participants

A total of 1512 (50.3% female) twins.

Measurements

Early adolescent alcohol exposures, adult substance-related and social outcomes and background variables reflecting behavioral, familial and environmental characteristics.

Findings

Background covariates unbalanced between those with and without early alcohol exposure were balanced through PS-based weighting, leaving several adult outcomes related to substance use or social functioning remaining significantly associated with early alcohol exposure. Similarly, the within-pair individual-level component of a CTC indicated that early alcohol-exposed twins had higher risk than their non-exposed co-twins for several, but not all, of the same adult outcomes. For example, early alcohol use was associated with an adult index of alcohol use in both PS-weighted (β = 0.57, P < 0.001) and CTC (β = 0.21, P = 0.031) analyses.

Conclusions

Early alcohol exposures predict adult alcohol problems and related outcomes, despite stringent adjustment for measured and non-measured sources of potential confounding using propensity score and co-twin control. Contrasting the methods indicated that exposure effect estimates from PS application were likely biased by unmeasured confounding factors.

Supporting Information

References

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Citing Literature

Volume110, Issue2

February 2015

Pages 269-278

Tests of the effects of adolescent early alcohol exposures on adult outcomes

Abstract

Aims

Design

Setting

Participants

Measurements

Findings

Conclusions

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

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Tests of the effects of adolescent early alcohol exposures on adult outcomes

Abstract

Aims

Design

Setting

Participants

Measurements

Findings

Conclusions

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information