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Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Alcohol Use, Marriage, and Parenthood in Young Adulthood







Jenny M. Larkins & Kenneth J. Sher

University of Missouri-Columbia and the
Missouri Alcoholism Research Center

Supported by NIAAA Grants R37 AA07231 to Kenneth J. Sher and P50 AA11998 to Andrew C. Heath


Introduction:“Maturing Out”
  • Rates of heavy drinking peak in late adolescence and sharply decrease during the third decade of life.
  • This trend likely reflects a maturational process in which individuals move into adult roles that are incompatible with drinking.
  • Transitions that occur during early adulthood also represent a period of increased health risks, including the development of drinking problems.
  • Individuals who do not exhibit the normative decrease in alcohol consumption are more likely experience chronic problems with alcohol.
Goal of the Study
  • To use data from a longitudinal study to explore alcohol-related variables that are associated with the likelihood of getting married and/or becoming a parent

Full Presentation (PDF)
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