Date of Award

Fall 12-2013

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Bradley Green

Advisor Department

Psychology

Abstract

The current study examined genetic and environmental influences in relation to alcohol use pathology. The 756 participants (378 adoptive, 378 non-adoptive) came from the 2001-2002 NESARC conducted by the NIAAA. A factorial ANOVA was used to measure the effects that the three grouping variables had on each dependent variable for a total of seven datasets. Results showed that biological parents’ drinking did pose a risk in participants for Loss of Control (p = .000) and Dangerous Behavior (p = .00). Adoption status was correlated with Conduct Disorder (p = .007) and Antisocial Personality Disorder (p = .014). This suggests that genetic influences have a bigger impact on alcohol use pathology than environmental ones. Adoption status could be an indicator for CD and ASPD.

Included in

Psychology Commons

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