title: Associations Between Gestational Age at Birth and Alcohol Use in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
abstract: The relationship between gestational age at birth (GA) and alcohol use measures in early adulthood was examined in a large U.K. community-based birth cohort (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children).
  
  
  
  A series of linear and logistic regression models were used to test for main effects of a continuous measure of GA on a range of alcohol use measures, and moderation of these associations by sex. In addition, mediation analyses assessed the extent to which significant associations between GA and alcohol use operated indirectly, through influences of the parental environment and/or childhood measures of emotional and behavioral health (EBH).
  
  
  
  Earlier GA significantly predicted never drinking by age 18, but was not associated with other measures of alcohol use behavior among young adult drinkers (i.e., Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, or DSM-IV-TR Criteria for Alcohol Dependence). The association between earlier GA and never drinking by age 18 was moderated by sex, such that females born early were less likely to have ever had a drink by age 18. In the full sample, childhood measures of EBH were found to mediate the association between earlier GA and never drinking by age 18. This association was not mediated by parenting factors.
  
  
  
  Earlier GA is associated with never drinking alcohol in early adulthood, in females. Emotional and behavioral difficulties experienced in early childhood may mediate the relationship between earlier GA and never drinking by age 18.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth K
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3503-1731
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Do
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas.
authors.forename: Shawn J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Latendresse
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Alexis C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Kenneth S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kendler
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychology, African American Studies, and Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Danielle M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: York
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol Dependence; Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children; Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties; Gestational Age at Birth; Parental Environment