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Resilience: A small, quiet word with huge alcohol use disorder implications

Date:
December 6, 2016
Source:
Research Society on Alcoholism
Summary:
Certain personality traits – such as disinhibition (a lack of restraint) and impulsivity – increase the chances of developing alcohol use disorders (AUDs), new research shows.
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Certain personality traits -- such as disinhibition (a lack of restraint) and impulsivity -- increase the chances of developing alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Conversely, personality traits such as low neuroticism and high conscientiousness can contribute to resilience, which is the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity and is protective against AUDs. This study looks at the relationship between resilience and AUDs, and how genetics or the environment may influence that relationship.

Researchers used personal interviews to assess resilience in 1,653,721 Swedish men, ages 17-25 years, and identified AUDs from Swedish medical, legal, and pharmacy registries. Analyses considered the relationship between resilience and AUDs, and how it might be linked to common genetic or environmental factors.

Results showed that resilience greatly reduced the risk of developing AUDs. Specifically, all five items that comprised resiliency -- social maturity, interest, psychological energy, home environment, and emotional control -- reduced risk, with social maturity having the strongest effect. Further, the relationship between resilience and AUD was largely attributable to overlapping genetic and shared environmental factors. These findings suggest that the relationship between resilience and AUD is not a causal one, but can be better explained by common genetic and environmental influences on drinking behavior.


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Materials provided by Research Society on Alcoholism. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Elizabeth C. Long, Sara L. Lönn, Jianguang Ji, Paul Lichtenstein, Jan Sundquist, Kristina Sundquist, Kenneth S. Kendler. Resilience and Risk for Alcohol Use Disorders: A Swedish Twin Study. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 2016; DOI: 10.1111/acer.13274

Cite This Page:

Research Society on Alcoholism. "Resilience: A small, quiet word with huge alcohol use disorder implications." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 December 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161206103528.htm>.
Research Society on Alcoholism. (2016, December 6). Resilience: A small, quiet word with huge alcohol use disorder implications. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161206103528.htm
Research Society on Alcoholism. "Resilience: A small, quiet word with huge alcohol use disorder implications." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161206103528.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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