BOYS, EARLY RISK FACTORS FOR ALCOHOL PROBLEMS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SELF: AN INTERCONNECTED MATRIX. Issue 1 (15th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Puttler, Leon I.; Fitzgerald, Hiram E.; Heitzeg, Mary M.; Zucker, Robert A.
• Other Names: Fitzgerald Hiram E. guestEditor.; Golding Paul guestEditor.; McKinney Marvin guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Infant mental health journal. Volume 38:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 83
• Page End: 96
• Publication Date: 2016-12-15
• Subjects: alcohol‐use disorders -- risk -- developmental pathways -- externalizing behavior -- intersubjective self -- trastornos de uso del alcohol -- rutas de desarrollo -- conducta externalizada -- yo intersubjetivo -- troubles d'utilisation de l'alcool -- chemins développementaux -- comportement d'externalisation -- self intersubjectif -- Alkoholgebrauchsstörungen -- Risiko -- Entwicklungspfade -- externalisierendes Verhalten -- intersubjektives Selbst -- アルコール使用障害 -- リスク -- 発達経路 -- 外在化行動 -- 間主観的自己 -- 酒精使用障礙 -- 風險 -- 發展途徑 -- 外化行為 -- 主體間自我; Infant psychiatry -- Periodicals; Infant psychology -- Periodicals; 618.9289
• DOI: 10.1002/imhj.21618
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0163-9641

Abstract

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.