Religion Can Have a Positive Influence in Deterring Alcohol Use Among Adolescents
An individual’s background can have an influence on choices they make as adults. This is especially true in the adolescent stage of life. A new study, featured in a Science Daily release, examines the effects of religion on the genetic variance of problem alcohol use in males and females.
This study, conducted by a team at the University of Colorado at Boulder, found that religiosity can moderate genetic effects on problem alcohol use during adolescence, but not during early adult life.
One author for the study noted that certain levels of alcohol-related phenotypes – frequencies of drinking and intoxication – are dependent upon the social background of the individual. Those with a religious background may be less likely to express phenotypes that are alcohol-related, compared with those without a religious background.
Social background also plays a part. Research has found that genes have a more important role in alcohol-related phenotypes for those with urban backgrounds, women who are unmarried and individuals who are considered to be nonreligious, compared with individuals from rural backgrounds, married women and those with a religious background.
In a study of 1,432 twin pairs, this research team found that genetic factors can influence problem alcohol use in adolescents without a religious basis than those with a greater outlook on religion. This finding suggests religiosity exerts a strong influence over the behavior of religious individuals, which can override genetic predisposition.
The results of this study suggest that problem alcohol use in adolescents can be subject to controlling influences that are associated with religiosity, even in the presence of genetic risks. Adolescents raised to value religious concepts are less likely to develop alcohol abuse problems.
