Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
Study: Alcohol use may lead to shorter marriages
By Staff Writer
Married couples that hope to live a long and happy life together may want to stay away from the liquor cabinet, according to the results of a recent study.
Researchers set out to locate a possible connection between alcohol use and the timing in which an individual gets married and possibly divorced. The study will be published in the April 2011 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
For their research, the scientists recruited over 5,000 Australian twins in the early 1980s. The psychological and physical manifestations of alcohol use on these individuals were assessed. Researchers took note of the participants' age at the onset of alcohol dependence, their first marriage and separation from their spouse.
The results indicated a strong connection between a dependence on alcohol and a delay in marriage and early separation. In addition, the researchers found that alcohol dependence in both the male and female participants was influenced by genetics. However, further research is required on alcohol addiction in families and its association with environmental influences.
Based on their findings, the researchers believe that if an individual's drinking increases or develops into an addiction, the chances of getting married may decrease. Seeking substance abuse help may prevent this from occurring.
