Genetic Risk, Life Strains, and Alcohol Use Disorder among Chinese Young Adult Men

• In Event: Applying Advanced Methods to Study Crime and Criminal Justice Issues in Asian Societies

Abstract

While numerous studies have addressed the interaction between genetic and environmental factors (G×E) on alcohol misuse in Western societies, limited research about G×E interaction concerning alcohol misuse has been conducted in China. This study aimed to address this gap by using data from a cross-sectional community survey and saliva samples for DNA extraction conducted in Guangzhou and Hong Kong, China. We examined the independent and interactive effects between the genetic risk, indexed by alcohol dependence polygenic risk scores (PGS), and various life stressors in a sample of 785 Chinese young adult men aged 18–30. The results showed that PGS and neighborhood strain had significant effects on harmful drinking in the past year. We also found significant interactions between strain variables and PGS for alcohol misuse, with chronic strain and neighborhood strain being more strongly associated with harmful drinking among those with low genetic risk. These results extend the limited research on GxE effects in the Chinese population and illustrate which groups of individuals are genetically more sensitive to the influence of life stressors when developing alcohol-related problems. The findings have implications for intervention strategies aimed at modifying social-contextual exposures for individuals with a genetic vulnerability to these risk factors.

Author

• Celia Chen, Lingnan University, Hong Kong