BOYS, EARLY RISK FACTORS FOR ALCOHOL PROBLEMS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SELF: AN INTERCONNECTED MATRIX

Abstract

Alcohol-use disorders are a major public health issue worldwide. Although drinking and problematic alcohol use usually begins during adolescence, developmental origins of the disorder can be traced back to infancy and early childhood. Identification of early risk factors is essential to understanding developmental origins. Using data from the Michigan Longitudinal Study, an ongoing, prospective, high-risk family study, this article summarizes findings of family context and functioning of both children and parents. We draw attention to the development of the self, an understudied aspect of very young children being reared in alcoholic families that exacerbates exposure to high childhood adverse experiences. We also provide evidence demonstrating that young boys are embedded in a dynamic system of genes, epigenetic processes, brain organization, family dynamics, peers, community, and culture that strengthens risky developmental pathways if nothing is done to intervene during infancy and early childhood.

Keywords: Alkoholgebrauchsstörungen; Entwicklungspfade; Risiko; alcohol-use disorders; chemins développementaux; comportement d'externalisation; conducta externalizada; developmental pathways; externalisierendes Verhalten; externalizing behavior; intersubjective self; intersubjektives Selbst; risk; rutas de desarrollo; self intersubjectif; trastornos de uso del alcohol; troubles d'utilisation de l'alcool; yo intersubjetivo; アルコール使用障害; リスク; 主體間自我; 外化行為; 外在化行動; 発達経路; 發展途徑; 酒精使用障礙; 間主観的自己; 風險.