Associations between family history of alcohol use problems and undergraduate students' alcohol use: a brief report.

OBJECTIVE

Family history (FH) of alcohol use problems are associated with undergraduate student alcohol use. Research is limited by generally focusing on the role of parents alone. Therefore, this research examined the association between parents' and grandparents' alcohol problems and undergraduate student alcohol use.

PARTICIPANTS

Data from 79 undergraduate students were examined.

METHODS

Secondary data analyses were conducted using cross-sectional baseline data from an experimental study investigating pain coping and alcohol urge.

RESULTS

FH of severe alcohol use problems was positively associated with number of drinking days per week and unhealthy alcohol use. Grandparents' FH explained variance above and beyond parent FH for number of drinks per typical drinking day and unhealthy alcohol use.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessing FH of severe alcohol problems in parents and grandparents may aid in estimating risk of unhealthy alcohol use in undergraduate students. Results may inform future alcohol use assessments and prevention education for undergraduate students.