Developmental Trajectories of Child and Adolescent Emotional Problems: associations with early adult alcohol use behaviors

TY - JOUR

T1 - Developmental Trajectories of Child and Adolescent Emotional Problems

T2 - associations with early adult alcohol use behaviors

AU - Chen, Tong

AU - Oginni, Olakunle A.

AU - Hannigan, Laurie J.

AU - Eley, Thalia C.

AU - Maggs, Jennifer L.

AU - Linden‐Carmichael, Ashley N.

AU - Neiderhiser, Jenae M.

PY - 2024/12/17

Y1 - 2024/12/17

N2 - Background: Whether emotional problems during childhood and adolescence are longitudinally associated withadult alcohol use behaviors is unclear. This study examined associations between developmental trajectories ofemotional problems and early adult alcohol use behaviors, while considering co-occurring conduct problems,developmental change/timing, sex differences, and potential confounds. Methods: Participants were from the TwinsEarly Development Study (analytic N = 19,908 individuals). Emotional and conduct problems were measured byparent reports at child ages 4, 7, and 9 years and via self-reports at ages 9, 11, and 16 years on the Strengths andDifficulties Questionnaire. Alcohol use behaviors (alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems) wereself-reported by the twins on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test at age 22 years. Piecewise latent growthcurve models described nonlinear developmental trajectories of emotional and conduct problems from ages 4 to 16.At age 22, alcohol use was regressed on emotional and conduct problems’ intercepts and slopes from piecewise latentgrowth curve model and sex differences in regression coefficients were tested. Using twin modeling, Choleskydecompositions and direct path models were compared to test whether significant phenotypic associations were bestexplained by direct phenotypic influences or correlated genetic and environmental influences. Results: Emotionalproblems had different associations with alcohol-related problems versus alcohol consumption. After accounting fordirect influences from conduct problems, emotional problems were not associated with alcohol-related problems,while emotional problems at age 9 were negatively associated with alcohol consumption in males. Conclusions:Overall, findings did not support emotional problems as prospective risk factors for severe alcohol use above andbeyond risks associated with conduct problems. Sex- and age-specific links between emotional problems and alcoholconsumption in early adulthood may be worthy of further exploration, particularly as twin analyses improved ourconfidence that such links may be underpinned by causal mechanisms. Keywords: Behavior problems; alcoholabuse; longitudinal studies; development; genetics.

AB - Background: Whether emotional problems during childhood and adolescence are longitudinally associated withadult alcohol use behaviors is unclear. This study examined associations between developmental trajectories ofemotional problems and early adult alcohol use behaviors, while considering co-occurring conduct problems,developmental change/timing, sex differences, and potential confounds. Methods: Participants were from the TwinsEarly Development Study (analytic N = 19,908 individuals). Emotional and conduct problems were measured byparent reports at child ages 4, 7, and 9 years and via self-reports at ages 9, 11, and 16 years on the Strengths andDifficulties Questionnaire. Alcohol use behaviors (alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems) wereself-reported by the twins on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test at age 22 years. Piecewise latent growthcurve models described nonlinear developmental trajectories of emotional and conduct problems from ages 4 to 16.At age 22, alcohol use was regressed on emotional and conduct problems’ intercepts and slopes from piecewise latentgrowth curve model and sex differences in regression coefficients were tested. Using twin modeling, Choleskydecompositions and direct path models were compared to test whether significant phenotypic associations were bestexplained by direct phenotypic influences or correlated genetic and environmental influences. Results: Emotionalproblems had different associations with alcohol-related problems versus alcohol consumption. After accounting fordirect influences from conduct problems, emotional problems were not associated with alcohol-related problems,while emotional problems at age 9 were negatively associated with alcohol consumption in males. Conclusions:Overall, findings did not support emotional problems as prospective risk factors for severe alcohol use above andbeyond risks associated with conduct problems. Sex- and age-specific links between emotional problems and alcoholconsumption in early adulthood may be worthy of further exploration, particularly as twin analyses improved ourconfidence that such links may be underpinned by causal mechanisms. Keywords: Behavior problems; alcoholabuse; longitudinal studies; development; genetics.

U2 - 10.1111/jcpp.14034

DO - 10.1111/jcpp.14034

M3 - Article

SN - 0021-9630

VL - 66

SP - 85

EP - 97

JO - Journal of child psychology and psychiatry

JF - Journal of child psychology and psychiatry

IS - 1

ER -