A – 57 Impact of familial substance abuse and sociocultural factors on youth cognitive functioning

Abstract Objective Past literature suggests substance abuse may be hereditary; specifically, children with familial substance abuse (fSubA) may perform worse on cognitive tests (Vang et al., 2025). However, researchers have not yet investigated sociocultural factors impacting performance. The current study examines whether fSubA relates to lower cognitive performance when accounting for sociocultural factors. Method Participants included healthy youth athletes in a larger concussion research program. Participants (8-17 years) were demographically matched (Mage=11.34, SD=2.22), with and without fSubA history (N=68; n=34). A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) determined whether fSubA, while covarying for ethnicity, gender, and parental marital status, impacted cognitive performance. Results Results indicated children with one or more fSubA performed worse on a developmental neuropsychological assessment (NEPSY) Trial 4 total score (p=0.035), Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning, Second Edition (WRAML-II) Verbal Learning Trials 1-4 (p=0.007), and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) Letter Number Sequencing (p< 0.001). Specifically, those with four fSubA performed worse on the NEPSY Trial 4 (ps< 0.001), while those with three fSubA performed worse on the WRAML-II Verbal Learning Trials and WISC-IV Letter Number Sequencing (ps< 0.001), relative to those with fewer fSubA. Conclusion The findings indicate that youth with fSubA exhibit worse memory than those without, despite controlling for sociocultural factors. Cognitive impacts of substance abuse may not be limited to diagnosed adults, but may also impact children’s memory-related performance. Further research should examine the effects of fSubA and sociocultural factors on youth performance.