We also found evidence of GxE involving social support. Specifically, we found a significant interaction between alc-GPS and friend support in relation to alcohol use, such that high friend support buffered the association between alc-GPS and alcohol use. Similarly, high friend support also buffered the association between sensation seeking, a genetically influenced trait, and alcohol use. These findings are consistent with prior research suggesting the moderating role of social support on genetic influences (Barr et al., 2017; Su et al., 2019) and the broader literature suggesting the protective role of social support in alcohol use outcomes (Humphreys et al., 1999; Peirce et al., 2000). To our knowledge, this study is among the first to show that high social support buffered risk associated with sensation seeking in relation to alcohol use. Prior research has largely documented the buffering role of social support for environmental risk factors such as stress and negative life events (Mulia et al., 2008). Consistent with the social support buffering hypothesis (Cohen & Wills, 1985), our findings extend the literature to suggest that the relations between individuals’ risk
