title: Sibling Facilitation Mediates the Association Between Older and Younger Sibling Alcohol Use in Late Adolescence.
abstract: Previous research has shown adolescent siblings are similar in their alcohol use and that this similarity is largely due to their shared environment. Using a genetically-informed sibling sample (196 full-biological pairs, 384 genetically unrelated pairs), we confirmed that the extent to which older siblings facilitate younger siblings' alcohol use (i.e., help them get alcohol) was one factor contributing to this shared environmental association. All analyses controlled for parent and peer influences. Findings were not moderated by sibling differences in genetic relatedness, gender, or ethnicity. Proximity in sibling age strengthened these associations, somewhat. Results were especially strong for sibling pairs where the older sibling was of legal drinking age. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Diana R. Samek is located at the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Auburn University. Matt McGue, Margaret Keyes, and William G. Iacono are located at the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota.
authors.forename: Diana R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Samek
authors.affiliation: Diana R. Samek is located at the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Auburn University. Matt McGue, Margaret Keyes, and William G. Iacono are located at the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGue
authors.affiliation: Diana R. Samek is located at the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Auburn University. Matt McGue, Margaret Keyes, and William G. Iacono are located at the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keyes
authors.affiliation: Diana R. Samek is located at the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Auburn University. Matt McGue, Margaret Keyes, and William G. Iacono are located at the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Iacono
keywords: Adolescent Alcohol Use; Shared Environment; Sibling Relationships