Temperament and psychosocial character traits among children may influence the development of drinking habits during middle age. Such is the conclusion reached by Peter Wennberg and his staff at the University of Stockholm.

The researchers were looking for reasons why some heavy-drinking adolescents cut back on their drinking during adult life, and why certain other adolescents without harmful alcohol consumption developed drinking problems in later life. The study made use of measurements of the temperament of children at the age of 4 years and of psychosocial characteristics at the age of 10 years. The drinking habits were then tracked to approximately 36 years of age.
The results of the analysis brought a number of correlations to light. It was discovered, for instance, that children who were extravert and affectionate at the age of 4 had relatively more problems with alcohol during later life. These were children whose characters are typified by social confidence, activity and attention-seeking, not particularly tidy and "fussy". Conversely, persons who were more self-absorbed as children, who were verbally dexterous, sensitive and displayed a keener sense of reality, tended to have fewer drink-related problems during later life.
A third connection was demonstrated, i.e., between an extravert-agressive dimension at the age of 4 and the frequency of intoxication at the age of 25 years.

The researchers also took account of the importance of the psychosocial characteristics at the age of 10 and the degree of stability as regards drinking during adolescence and adulthood. The various elements brought into the equation incuded the parental socio-economic status (SES), intelligence, concentration span, feelings of anxiety and school results.
The group in which at-risk alcohol consumption remained limited into adolescence and early adulthood (21 years) was characterized by low parental SES and by a general risk-profile. In addition, motivation problems at school and a general lack of ability to adapt appeared to be indicators for later problems with alcohol.
Finally, the research yielded another interesting result: while school results and intelligence are strongly correlated, no connection was found between intelligence and drinking habits. The authors suggest that the effort at school to get good marks, rather than a pure and simple aptitude for school work, is the only protection against subsequent alcohol abuse.

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