Consistent with recent research, the typology findings suggest that a family history of alcoholism predisposes women, as well as men, to a wide range of problems, one of which is alcoholism. The high risk-high severity group is characterized by high levels of risk factors, including a strong family history of alcoholism, that are evident at a relatively young age in both genders and result in similar characteristics for both men and women. As Hill and colleagues (1994) suggest, however, the progression toward alcohol problems may change, perhaps as a result of environmental factors (e.g., childhood upbringing). Such factors appear to dilute the effect of a family history of alcoholism on the later development of alcoholism. Thus, it is possible that differing childhood environments for males and females at risk for developing alcohol problems can alter whether and how they develop these problems later in life.
