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MAOA genotype, family relations and sexual abuse in relation to adolescent alcohol consumption
Author(s) -
Nilsson Kent W.,
Comasco Erika,
Åslund Cecilia,
Nordquist Niklas,
Leppert Jerzy,
Oreland Lars
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2010.00238.x
Subject(s) - alcohol use disorders identification test , psychology , socioeconomic status , psychosocial , alcohol abuse , demography , poison control , clinical psychology , psychiatry , injury prevention , medicine , environmental health , population , sociology
The aim of the present study was to investigate MAOA gene–environment (G*E) interactions in relation to adolescent alcohol consumption. In the county of Västmanland, Sweden, all 17–18‐year‐old students were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire and provide a saliva sample during class hours. A total of 2263 students completed the questionnaire (77.4%) and a saliva sample was provided by 2131 participants. Failed MAOA u‐variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) genotype analyses and internal non‐responses left 851 boys and 735 girls (total n = 1586) to be investigated. Alcohol use disorder identification test was used to measure hazardous alcohol consumption. MAOA u‐VNTR was used to measure biological risk in interaction with poor family relations and experience of sexual abuse. The model was also adjusted for non‐independent socioeconomic variables, separated parents, type of housing and parental unemployment. Results showed that the MAOA u‐VNTR, in interaction with psychosocial risk factors, such as the quality of family relations and sexual abuse, was related to high alcohol consumption among adolescents. Girls, carrying the long MAOA u‐VNTR variant showed a higher risk of being high alcohol consumers, whereas among boys, the short allele was related to higher alcohol consumption. The present study supports the hypothesis that there is a relation between MAOA u‐VNTR and alcohol consumption and that this relation is modulated by environmental factors. Furthermore, the present study also supports the hypothesis that there is a sex difference in the G*E interaction.