Citation

Zernicke KA, Cantrell H, Finn PR, Lucas J. Addict. Behav. 2010; 35(5): 414-418.

Affiliation

Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.addbeh.2009.12.004

PMID

20074861

PMCID

PMC2830366

Abstract

Earlier age of first drink (AFD) of alcohol is associated with higher rates of alcohol abuse and dependence as well as a range of other externalizing problems. This study tested the hypotheses that in young adults earlier AFD is associated with [1] the common variance among externalizing problems (lifetime alcohol, marijuana, other drug, childhood conduct, and adult antisocial behavior problems) rather than being uniquely associated with alcohol problems, and [2] the disinhibited personality traits of social deviance and impulsivity, and that the association between earlier AFD and externalizing problems is partly accounted for by disinhibited personality. The sample (N=502) included 299 young adults with a history of alcohol dependence (AD) and 203 subjects with no history of AD. Analyses showed that [1] earlier AFD was associated with the covariance among the different domains of externalizing problems and was not unique to any one externalizing problem, [2] earlier AFD was associated with social deviance and impulsivity, and [3] social deviance and impulsivity accounted for part of the association between earlier AFD and externalizing problems. The results suggest that earlier AFD is associated with a vulnerability to disinhibitory disorders and is not specifically associated with alcohol problems.

Language: en