title: Rule breaking mediates the developmental association between GABRA2 and adolescent substance abuse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study's primary aim was to examine age-specific associations between GABRA2, rule breaking, problematic alcohol use, and substance abuse symptomatology. The secondary aim was to examine the extent to which rule breaking mediates the GABRA2-substance abuse relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample (n = 518) of primarily male (70.9%) and White (88.8%) adolescents from the Michigan Longitudinal Study was assessed from ages 11-18. Age-specific effects of GABRA2 on rule breaking, problematic alcohol use, and substance abuse symptomatology were examined using nested path models. The role of rule breaking as a mediator in the association between GABRA2 and substance abuse outcomes was tested using prospective cross-lagged path models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GABRA2 is significantly (p < 0.05) associated with rule breaking in mid- to late-adolescence, but not substance abuse symptomatology across adolescence. GABRA2 effects on problematic alcohol use and substance abuse symptomatology operate largely (45.3% and 71.1%, respectively, p < 0.05) via rule breaking in midadolescence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GABRA2 represents an early risk factor for an externalizing pathway to the development of problematic alcohol and drug use.
authors.affiliation: Addiction Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Elisa M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Trucco
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villafuerte
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Heitzeg
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burmeister
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Zucker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C484841:GABRA2 protein, human; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A
keywords: GABRA2; adolescence; mediation; rule breaking; substance abuse