The current study, like Dawson et al. (1992), examines FH across levels of relatedness in a sample of US adults. We examine associations of FH density with two alcohol outcomes, expecting drinkers with alcohol problems in close relatives3 or from more densely-affected families4 will be more likely to be high-risk drinkers and to have alcohol dependence. We also expect individuals residing in areas with greater alcohol availability to be more likely to be high-risk drinkers and to have alcohol dependence, while those residing in areas with greater adherence to religions that discourage or prohibit drinking will be less likely to be high-risk drinkers or alcohol dependent. To extend prior work, we examine whether relationships of FH with high-risk drinking and dependence vary by environmental context. We assess interactions of FH with our two social control measures. We expect environments characterized by low social control (greater alcohol availability) will be associated with a stronger relationship of FH with alcohol outcomes and environments associated with high social control (more religious adherents) will conversely be associated with weaker relationships. We explore differences in these effects by sex and by race/ethnicity as well.
