A generation of behavioral genetic research has convincingly established the existence of a genetic influence on risk of alcoholism, at least in males. Nonetheless, relatively little is known about the nature of that influence, nor how genetic factors might interact with psychosocial experience in the etiology of alcoholism. Over the past 6 years, the principal investigator has been involved in the initiation of several large prospective studies of adolescent twins and adoptees with the overall aim of identifying genetic and environmental influences and interactions in the development of alcoholism. In particular, the conceptual model that guides his research, the model he seeks to develop and test with RSDA support, assumes that the genetic diathesis which can be ultimately expressed as alcoholism in adulthood, is expressed in pre- adolescence and adolescence as personality deviations along two broad dimensions of personality: Behavioral Constraint and Negative Emotionality. Genotype-environment correlation is hypothesized to be the mechanism underlying transition from adolescent personality to adult psychopathology. That is, familial and extrafamilial experience is, in part, influenced by inherited dispositional characteristics, and in turn these experiences, in part, influence subsequent psychological development. Analysis of the extensive behavioral genetic data sets available to the PI will allow him to fully explore this conceptual model.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research (K02)
Project #
5K02AA000175-02
Application #
2042850
Study Section
Clinical and Treatment Subcommittee (ALCP)
Project Start
1994-01-01
Project End
1998-12-31
Budget Start
1995-01-01
Budget End
1995-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
168559177
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
McGue, M; Bouchard Jr, T J (1998) Genetic and environmental influences on human behavioral differences. Annu Rev Neurosci 21:1-24
Sharma, A R; McGue, M K; Benson, P L (1998) The psychological adjustment of United States adopted adolescents and their nonadopted siblings. Child Dev 69:791-802
McGue, M; Christensen, K (1997) Genetic and environmental contributions to depression symptomatology: evidence from Danish twins 75 years of age and older. J Abnorm Psychol 106:439-48
Herskind, A M; McGue, M; Sorensen, T I et al. (1996) Sex and age specific assessment of genetic and environmental influences on body mass index in twins. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 20:106-13
Jockin, V; McGue, M; Lykken, D T (1996) Personality and divorce: a genetic analysis. J Pers Soc Psychol 71:288-99
McGue, M; Sharma, A; Benson, P (1996) Parent and sibling influences on adolescent alcohol use and misuse: evidence from a U.S. adoption cohort. J Stud Alcohol 57:8-18
Hur, Y M; McGue, M; Iacono, W G (1995) Unequal rate of monozygotic and like-sex dizygotic twin birth: evidence from the Minnesota Twin Family Study. Behav Genet 25:337-40