Journal article
Childhood exposure to danger increases Black youths' alcohol consumption, accelerated aging, and cardiac risk as young adults: A test of the incubation hypothesis
Development and psychopathology, Vol.38(1), pp.156-171
02/2026
DOI: 10.1017/S0954579425000264
PMCID: PMC12353583
PMID: 40289919
Abstract
Using the dual-pathway framework (Beach et al., a), we tested a Neuro-immune Network (NIN) hypothesis: i.e., that chronically elevated inflammatory processes may have delayed (i.e., incubation) effects on young adult substance use, leading to negative health outcomes. In a sample of 449 participants in the Family and Community Health Study who were followed from age 10 to age 29, we examined a non-self-report index of young adult elevated alcohol consumption (EAC). By controlling self-reported substance use at the transition to adulthood, we were able to isolate a significant delayed (incubation) effect from childhood exposure to danger to EAC (β = -.157, p = .006), which contributed to significantly worse aging outomes. Indirect effects from danger to aging outcomes via EAC were: GrimAge (IE = .010, [.002, .024]), Cardiac Risk (IE = -.004, [-.011, -.001]), DunedinPACE (IE = .002, [.000, .008]). In exploratory analyses we examined potential sex differences in effects, showing slightly stronger incubation effects for men and slightly stronger effects of EAC on aging outcomes for women. Results support the NIN hypothesis that incubation of immune pathway effects contributes to elevated alcohol consumption in young adulthood, resulting in accelerated aging and elevated cardiac risk outcomes via health behavior.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Childhood exposure to danger increases Black youths' alcohol consumption, accelerated aging, and cardiac risk as young adults: A test of the incubation hypothesis
- Creators
- Steven R H Beach - University of GeorgiaSierra E Carter - Georgia State UniversityMei Ling Ong - University of GeorgiaJustin A Lavner - University of GeorgiaSteven M Kogan - University of GeorgiaKatherine B Ehrlich - University of GeorgiaMan-Kit Lei - University of GeorgiaRonald L Simons - University of GeorgiaOlutosin Adesogan - University of GeorgiaFrederick X Gibbons - University of ConnecticutMeg Gerrard - University of ConnecticutRobert A Philibert - Behavioral Diagnostics (United States)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Development and psychopathology, Vol.38(1), pp.156-171
- DOI
- 10.1017/S0954579425000264
- PMID
- 40289919
- PMCID
- PMC12353583
- NLM abbreviation
- Dev Psychopathol
- ISSN
- 1469-2198
- eISSN
- 1469-2198
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press; CAMBRIDGE
- Grant note
- National Cancer Institute: R01 CA220254 National Institute on Drug Abuse: P50 DA051361 National Institute on Aging: 1RF1AG077386
This research was supported by R01 CA220254 from the National Cancer Institute and P50 DA051361 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse awarded to Steven Beach, and by 1RF1AG077386 from the National Institute on Aging, awarded to Ronald Simons.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 04/28/2025
- Date published
- 02/2026
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984816011102771
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