Gender differences in the relationships among SES, family history of alcohol disorders and alcohol dependence

Objective: Potential moderator and mediator roles of several measures of so cioeconomic status (SES) were investigated for the relationship between a F amily history of alcoholism (FH) and alcohol dependence symptoms in adultho od. Method: These analyses were performed with a sample of 931 men and 385 women participating in studies at the Alcohol Research Center, University o f Michigan. Hierarchical multiple regression equations were used to assess whether SES mediated and moderated relationships between FH and alcohol dep endence symptoms. Results: In general, measures of SES (education, occupati on, personal and household income) were more important predictors of alcoho l dependence symptoms among men, while FH was a stronger predictor among wo men. In the female sample, measures of personal and household income intera cted with family history such that the influence of family history on adult alcohol dependence symptoms was significantly stronger among low income wo men. Measures of SES and FH were additively related to alcohol dependence s ymptoms among men. Education partially meditated the relationship between f amily history and alcohol dependence symptoms among men, indicating that th e influence of family history on subsequent alcohol problems among men may be partially due to familial alcoholism's negative effect on educational at tainment. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest the influence of F H on alcohol dependence varies according to SES and gender, and point to th e usefulness of examining potential moderators and mediators of family hist ory of alcohol use disorders.