The overarching goal of this study was to examine the role of sensation seeking and social support in in linking genetic risk to alcohol use in adulthood. Using data from a large sample of adults from extended families enriched for AUD, our findings indicated that individuals’ alc-GPS was associated with higher sensation seeking, which in turn was associated with higher levels of alcohol use. In addition, alc-GPS was associated with reduced social support from family (but not friends), which in turn was associated with more alcohol use. Furthermore, social support from friends (but not family) moderated the association between individuals’ risk predispositions and alcohol use, such that the association between alc-GPS and alcohol use, as well as the association between sensation seeking and alcohol use, were attenuated by high levels of friend support. Findings revealed that the pattern of associations was similar between males and females; however, there were some differences in associations between social support and alcohol use across age groups.
