Social Support as a Protective Factor for Alcohol Use Disorders: Results from a Nationally Representative Family History Study

Abstract

Aims The current study examined the buffering effect of social support on the relationship between family history and alcohol use disorder symptoms (AUDsx). Methods The current study analyzes data from Waves 1 and 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (N = 34,653). Count of AUDsx were measured using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-DSM-IV Version, the independent variable was a weighted density measure of family history of AUDsx and the moderating variable was social support measured using the 12-item Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL-12). Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate the association between (1) family history and AUDsx and (2) social support and AUDsx. Average marginal effects were estimated to explore the buffering effect of social support on the association between family history and AUDsx. Results Family history was positively associated with AUDsx (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.39–1.54) and social support was negatively associated with AUDsx (IRR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.74–0.86). The marginal effects of family history decreased at higher levels of social support, indicating a buffering influence of social support on the association between family history and AUDsx. Conclusions Results reveal a buffering effect of social support, where greater levels of social support reduce the association between family history and AUDsx. These results indicate that the social context, and social support specifically, may be important for diminishing the risk of AUDsx.