title: Differential Susceptibility: The Genetic Moderation of Peer Pressure on Alcohol Use.
abstract: Although peer pressure can influence adolescents' alcohol use, individual susceptibility to these pressures varies across individuals. The dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) is a potential candidate gene that may influence adolescents' susceptibility to their peer environment due to the role dopamine plays in reward sensation during social interaction. We hypothesized that DRD4 genotype status would moderate the impact of 7th-grade antisocial peer pressure on 12th-grade lifetime alcohol use (n = 414; 58.7% female; 92.8% White). The results revealed significant main effects for antisocial peer pressure, but no main effects for DRD4 genotype on lifetime alcohol use. Adolescent DRD4 genotype moderated the association between peer pressure and lifetime alcohol use. For individuals who carried at least one copy of the DRD4 7-repeat allele (7+), antisocial peer pressure was associated with increased lifetime alcohol use. These findings indicate that genetic sensitivity to peer pressure confers increased alcohol use in late adolescence.
authors: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, 119 Health and Human Development, University Park, PA, USA, amg5435@psu.edu.
authors: Amanda M
authors: AM
authors: Griffin
authors: H Harrington
authors: HH
authors: Cleveland
authors: Gabriel L
authors: GL
authors: Schlomer
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Vandenbergh
authors: Mark E
authors: ME
authors: Feinberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C493599:DRD4 protein, human; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4