Risk factors for alcohol dependence in Native Americans

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议的研究计划的目标是开始测试一个更完整的美洲原住民（NA）饮酒模型。该模型的第一部分采用饮酒行为选择理论来帮助解释高平均NA饮酒水平。标准生活强化物（Standard Life Reinforcers，SLR）是一组基本的奖励经验或结果，个人努力争取，如住房，经济保障，工作机会，家庭亲密度和知识。一些NAs较少获得某些SLR，饮酒导致的其他SLR损失较少，饮酒与获得其他SLR之间的偶然性较少。结果，他们经历了更少的激励，以避免大量饮酒，因此他们喝得更重。模型的第二部分应用后天准备理论来解释NAs之间饮酒水平的个体差异。这种模式结合了个性和心理社会学习。它提出，去抑制/冲动作为一个一般的，远端的风险因素，为一系列的行为。当一个人也获得了一个接近的风险因素时，冲动可能会导致饮酒问题，即，期望通过饮酒来强化。整体模型解决了群体和个体差异因素。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the proposed program of research is to begin testing a more complete model of Native American (NA) drinking. The first part of the model adapts drinking behavioral choice theory to help explain high mean NA drinking levels. Standard Life Reinforcers (SLRs) are a basic set of rewarding experiences or consequences that individuals strive for, such as housing, economic security, work opportunity, family closeness, and knowledge. Some NAs experience less access to some SLRs, less loss of other SLRs from drinking, and less contingency between drinking and access to yet other SLRs. As a result, they experience fewer incentives to avoid heavy drinking, and hence they drink more heavily. The second part of the model applies acquired preparedness theory to explain individual differences in drinking levels among NAs. This model incorporates both personality and psychosocial learning. It proposes that disinhibition/impulsivity operates as a general, distal risk factor for a range of acting out behaviors. Impulsivity is likely to lead to problem drinking when one also acquires a proximal risk factor, i.e., expectancies for reinforcement from drinking. The overall model addresses both group and individual difference factors.