A Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism (5-HTTLPR), Drinking-to-Cope Motivation, and Negative Life Events Among College Students

Objective: This study was performed to examine whether a polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in the serotonin transporter gene was related to college students' reports of relief drinking (drinking-to-cope motives) and whether it moderated the associations between negative life events and drinking to cope. We examined reward drinking (drinking-to-enhance motives) as a comparison and to see whether these effects varied across gender. Method: Using an Internet-based survey, college students (N = 360; 192 women) self-reported oil drinking motives and negative life events for up to 4 years. Study participants provided saliva for genotyping the triallelic (L-A vs L-G or S) variants of 5-HTTLPR. Results: Among men. individuals with two risk alleles (L-G or S), compared with individuals with the L-A/L-A allele, displayed lower drinking-to-cope motives. Among women, individuals with one risk allele (either L,, or S), compared with individuals with the L-A/L-A allele, displayed stronger drinking-to-enhance motives. The association between yearly changes in negative life events and drinking-to-cope motives varied across 5-HTTLPR genotype and gender and was strongest in the positive direction for women with the L-A/L-A variant. Conclusions: Our findings are not consistent with prior speculation that stronger positive associations between life stress and alcohol use among individuals with the L-G or S allele are the result of increased use of alcohol as a method for coping with stress. The importance of examining gender differences in the relations between 5-HTTLPR. substance use. and related constructs is also noted. (J Stud. Alcohol Drugs 69: 814-823, 2008)