Personality, Social Factors, Brain Functioning, Familial Risk, and Trajectories of Alcohol Misuse in Adolescence
Authors: Tschorn Mira , Daedelow Laura , Szalek Laura , Banaschewski Tobias , Bokde Arun L. W. , Desrivières Sylvane , Flor Herta , Grigis Antoine , Garavan Hugh , Gowland Penny , Martinot Jean-Luc , Martinot Marie-Laure Paillère , Artiges Eric , Nees Frauke , Orfanos Dimitri Papadopoulos , Poustka Luise , Hohmann Sarah , Buechl Christian , Smolka Michael N. , Vaidya Nilakshi , Walter Henrik , Whelan Robert , Schumann Gunter , Heinz Andreas , Rapp Michael A. ,   IMAGEN Consortium, Robbin Trevor , Dalley Jeffrey , Subramaniam Naresh , Theobald David , Mann Karl , Bach Christiane , Struve Maren , Rietschel Marcella , Spanagel Rainer , Fauth-Bühler Mira , Millenet Sabina , Grimmer Yvonne , Lathrop Mark , Albrecht Lisa , Ivanov Nikolay , Strache Nicole , Ströhle Andreas , Reuter Jan , Gallinat Jürgen , Gemmeke Isabel , Genauck Alexander , Parchetka Caroline , Weiß Katharina , Kruschwitz Johann , Raffaelli Bianca , Barbot Alexis , Thyreau Benjamin , Schwartz Yannick , Lalanne Christophe , Frouin Vincent Frouin25, , Rogers John , Ireland James , Lanzerath Dirk , Feng Jianfeng , Bricaud Zuleima , Gollier Briand Fanny , LemaÎtre Hervé , Miranda Ruben , Massicotte Jessica , Vulser Helene , Pentillä Jani , Filippi Irina , Galinowski André , Bezivin Pauline , Cattrell Anna , Jia Tianye , Werts Helen , Topper Lauren , Reed Laurence , Andrew Chris , Mallik Catherine , Ruggeri Barbara , Barker Gareth , Nymberg Charlotte , Conrod Patricia J. , Smith Lindsay , Loth Eva , Havatzias Stephanie , Kitson Emily , Robinson Alice , Hall Deborah , Rubino Chiara , Wright Hannah , Stueber Kerstin , Hanratty Eanna , Kennedy Eleanor , de Carvahlo Fabiana Mesquita , Stringaris Argyris , Ing Alex , Robert Gabriel , Macare Christine , Xu Bing , Yu Tao , Burke Quinlan Erin , Constant Patrick , Aydin Semiha , Brühl Ruediger , Ihlenfeld Albrecht , Walaszek Bernadeta , Ittermann Bernd , Smolka Michael , Hübner Thomas , Müller Kathrin , Ripke Stephan , Jurk Sarah , Mennigen Eva , Schmidt Dirk , Vetter Nora , Ziesch Veronika , Fröhner Juliane H. , Carter Daniel , O’Driscoll Susanne , Walsh Emily , Agan Maria Leonora Fatimah , McMorrow Mairead , Nugent Sinead , Connolly Colm , Dooley Eoin , Cremen Clodagh , Jones Jennifer , O’Keefe John , O’Connor Martin , Poline Jean-Baptiste , Bromberg Uli , Fadai Tahmine , Yacubian Juliana , Schneider Sophia , Lobatcheva Maria , Lawrence Claire , Newman Craig , Head Kay , Stedman Alicia , Heym Nadja , Kaviani Mehri , Paus Tomáš , Stephens Dai , Pausova Zdenka , Tahmasebi Amir 
Published: August 2024

Importance

The development of an alcohol use disorder in adolescence is associated with increased risk of future alcohol dependence. The differential associations of risk factors with alcohol use over the course of 8 years are important for preventive measures.

Objective

To determine the differential associations of risk-taking aspects of personality, social factors, brain functioning, and familial risk with hazardous alcohol use in adolescents over the course of 8 years.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The IMAGEN multicenter longitudinal cohort study included adolescents recruited from European schools in Germany, the UK, France, and Ireland from January 2008 to January 2019. Eligible participants included those with available neuropsychological, self-report, imaging, and genetic data at baseline. Adolescents who were ineligible for magnetic resonance imaging or had serious medical conditions were excluded. Data analysis was conducted from July 2021 to September 2022.

Exposure

Personality testing, psychosocial factors, brain functioning, and familial risk of alcohol misuse.

Main Outcome and Measures

Hazardous alcohol use as measured with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores, a main planned outcome of the IMAGEN study. Alcohol misuse trajectories at ages 14, 16, 19, and 22 years were modeled using latent growth curve models.

Results

A total of 2240 adolescents (1110 female [49.6%] and 1130 male [50.4%]) were included in the study. There was a significant negative association of psychosocial resources (β = −0.29; SE = 0.03; P &amp;lt; .001) with the general risk of alcohol misuse as well as a significant positive association of the risk-taking aspects of personality with the intercept (β = 0.19; SE = 0.04; P &amp;lt; .001). Furthermore, there were significant positive associations of the social domain (β = 0.13; SE = 0.02; P &amp;lt; .001) and the personality domain (β = 0.07; SE = 0.02; P &amp;lt; .001) with trajectories of alcohol misuse development over time (slope). Family history of substance misuse was negatively associated with general risk of alcohol misuse (β = −0.04; SE = 0.02; P = .045) and its development over time (β = −0.03; SE = 0.01; P = .01). Brain functioning showed no significant association with intercept or slope of alcohol misuse in the model.

Conclusions and Relevance

The findings of this cohort study suggest known risk factors of adolescent drinking may contribute differentially to future alcohol misuse. This approach may inform more individualized preventive interventions.