Childhood temperament and adult alcohol habits: a prospective longitudinal study from age 4 to age 36.
The purpose of the present study was to relate childhood temperament dimensions at age 4 to alcohol habits until young middle age. Data were derived from the male cohort (n = 122) in a larger prospective longitudinal project. At age 4, a professional psychologist rated the child's behavior on 30 aspects of temperament, which, in turn, were factor-analyzed and cross-validated to other measures of personality at ages 10, 25 and 36. The five extracted factors at age 4 were correlated to the level of consumption at age 18, frequency of intoxication at age 25, lifetime alcohol problem up to age 36 and registered drug-related criminality. There was a positive correlation between a factor denoted Extravert/outgoing and lifetime alcohol problems and a negative correlation between a factor denoted Social reactivity and alcohol problems. Although all correlations were modest (typically ranging between .20 and .30), the findings have theoretical implications and these were further discussed.
Wennberg
Peter
P
Department of Psychology University of Stockholm, Sweden. prwg@psychology.su.se
Bohman
Michael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013694:Temperament