A nurse at a community health center is preparing a presentation on alcohol use disorder. Which of the following risk factors should the nurse include in the presentation?

Choice A reason: Low socioeconomic status is a risk factor for alcohol use disorder, as it increases stress, limits access to healthcare, and correlates with environmental triggers like substance availability. Chronic stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, increasing vulnerability to substance use as a maladaptive coping mechanism. Choice B reason: High self-esteem is not a risk factor for alcohol use disorder. Low self-esteem is more associated, as it drives maladaptive coping through substance use. High self-esteem supports resilience, reducing reliance on alcohol to manage emotional or social stressors, making this incorrect. Choice C reason: Genetic predisposition significantly increases alcohol use disorder risk, as variations in genes like ALDH2 affect alcohol metabolism, increasing dependence vulnerability. Family history indicates heritability, influencing dopamine reward pathways and susceptibility to addiction, making this a critical risk factor to include in the presentation. Choice D reason: Maternal infection during pregnancy may cause developmental issues but is not directly linked to alcohol use disorder. Fetal alcohol exposure, not infection, is a known risk, causing neurological changes that predispose to substance use, making this an incorrect risk factor for the presentation.