Specifically, youth with the S allele reported lower responses to alcohol (i.e., higher SRE-5 scores). This in turn predicted more drinks consumed and more binge drinking days when parental monitoring levels were low (i.e., looser monitoring), but not when parental monitoring levels were high (i.e., tighter monitoring). In addition, for drinks consumed, this effect was also present at moderate monitoring levels. These results are consistent with prior studies finding that the 5-HTTLPR S allele is associated with negative alcohol behaviors and outcomes (Chen et al., 2014; Covault et al., 2007; Herman et al., 2003), as well as those indicating that poorly monitored adolescents are more likely to use drugs (Steinberg et al., 1994). Results also showed that at high levels of parental monitoring, the lower level of response to alcohol associated with the 5-HTTLPR S allele was negatively associated with alcohol-related problems. These results suggests that even in the presence of genetic (i.e., S allele) and physiological (i.e., low level of response to alcohol) risk factors, parents have the ability to influence the likelihood of their offspring developing problem alcohol use.
