In conclusion, in a high-risk sample enriched for familial risk of alcohol use disorder, we found that parental separation and parental relationship discord were associated with the initial level and longitudinal course of heavy episodic drinking across adolescence through young adulthood, with some variation by continental group. In the EA sample, both parental separation and discord were associated with higher initial levels for heavy episodic drinking, which persisted over time. In the AA sample, parental relationship discord was associated with faster escalation and slower decline in HED. In addition, polygenic predispositions for problematic alcohol use were associated with faster growth in HED. These results highlight the impact of familial stressors on the risk of alcohol misuse across development.
