The Causal Role of Alcohol Use in Adolescent Externalizing and Internalizing Problems: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Abstract
Background: The co‐occurrence of alcohol use and externalizing/internalizing problems threatens adolescents’ mental health. Research on whether alcohol use and these problems are causal and the direction of the potential causal relationships is needed to understand the mechanisms of the co‐occurrence. Methods: A Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted in which the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH 2) rs671 polymorphism was used as an instrumental variable for alcohol use phenotypes. In total, 1,608 Chinese adolescents (mean age 14.11 ± 1.83 years) were genotyped for the ALDH 2 rs671 polymorphism. Three externalizing problems (aggression, delinquency, and attention problems) were measured with the Youth Self‐Report inventory, and 2 internalizing problems (depression and anxiety) were measured with the self‐reported Children's Depression Inventory and the Trait subscale of the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results: Alcohol use was positively associated with all 3 externalizing and 2 internalizing problems, and the ALDH 2 polymorphism had a significant effect on alcohol use. Aggression and attention problems were also significantly affected by the ALDH 2 polymorphism, whereas no significant association was observed between the ALDH 2 polymorphism and delinquency, anxiety, or depression. Conclusions: The results suggest that alcohol use is a cause of adolescent aggression and attention problems but not adolescent delinquency, anxiety, or depression.
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Aggression scores were ALDH2 nondeficient: M = 50.37 (SD = 10.04), ALDH2 deficient: M = 49.18 (SD = 9.90), p = 0.033.
“Aggression: ALDH2 nondeficient: M = 50.37 (SD = 10.04) ALDH2 deficient: M = 49.18 (SD = 9.90), p = 0.033”
From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Chao [119]
Path estimates indicated that ALDH2 deficiency was associated with a lower alcohol use frequency, reduced quantity, and lower desire, which in turn was associated with less aggressive behavior.
“path estimates indicated that ALDH2 deficiency was associated with a lower alcohol use frequency, reduced quantity, and lower desire, which in turn was associated with less aggressive behavior”
From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Chao [119]
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- Authors
- Chao, M., Li, X., & McGue, M.
- Affiliations
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Corresponding author
- Li, Xinying
- Venue
- Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-10-11
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1953-1960
- ISSN
- 0145-6008 (ISSN-L)
- 1530-0277
- OpenAlex
- W2753895408
- Cited by
- 62
- References
- 60
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 10.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Institutional Repository of Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (31530031)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Keywords
- adolescent alcohol use, externalizing problems, internalizing problems, aggression, delinquency, attention deficits, depression, anxiety, ALDH2, causal inference, Chinese adolescents
- MeSH terms
- Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial, Adolescent, Aggression, Alcohol Drinking, Anxiety, Attention, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, China, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Personality Inventory, Mendelian Randomization Analysis
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