Differences between White and Black young women in the relationship between religious service attendance and alcohol involvement

Am J Addict. 2017 Aug;26(5):437-445. doi: 10.1111/ajad.12462. Epub 2016 Oct 17.

Abstract

Background and objectives: We examined the associations of religious attendance during childhood (C-RA) and adulthood (A-RA) with alcohol involvement (ever drinking, timing of first alcohol use, and alcohol use disorder [AUD]) in White and Black female twins. As genetic and environmental factors influence religious attendance and alcohol involvement, we examined the extent to which they contribute to their association.

Methods: Data on 3,234 White and 553 Black female twins (18-29 years) from the Missouri Adolescent Female twin Study. Significant correlations between C-RA or A-RA and alcohol involvement were parsed into their additive genetic, shared environmental, and individual-specific environmental sources.

Results: C-RA was associated with ever drinking and timing of first alcohol use in Whites. A-RA was associated with ever drinking and AUD in both Whites and Blacks. Shared environmental influences did not contribute to alcohol or religiosity phenotypes in Blacks. In Whites, the association between C-RA and alcohol was due to shared environmental influences, whereas the association between A-RA and alcohol was attributable to additive genetic, shared environmental, and individual-specific environmental sources. Individual-specific environment and genetics contributed to associations between A-RA and ever drinking and AUD, respectively, in Blacks.

Conclusions: Factors other than C-RA contribute to lower rates of alcohol involvement in Blacks. Shared environment does not contribute to links between A-RA and alcohol involvement in Blacks.

Scientific significance: The protective impact of childhood religiosity on alcohol use and misuse is important in Whites and is due to familial factors shared by religiosity and alcohol involvement. (Am J Addict 2017;26:437-445).

Publication types

  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / genetics
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology*
  • Alcoholism / genetics
  • Alcoholism / psychology*
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Environment
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Religion*
  • Twins / psychology*
  • White People / psychology*
  • Young Adult