Adolescent Drinking and Midlife Outcomes: A Prospective Cotwin Control Study

About the study

The Midlife study seeks to determine the consequences of adolescent drinking.  We proposed to complete an in-person assessment during mid-adulthood on an expected 1130 twins and their spouses/partners from the Minnesota Twin Family Study (MTFS). The assessment covered the following major domains of functioning: 1) mental health including substance use and abuse, 2) physical health  3) neurocognitive function, and 4) psychosocial functioning including relationship quality, life stress, and social isolation. Using these data, we will investigate whether drinking during adolescence is associated with later life drinking; the effects of drinking on attachment in adulthood, and whether these effects vary by gender.  

Study personnel

• Principal Investigator: Matt McGue, PhD
• Data Management:  Anthony Graham, Linda Springer
• Undergraduate Research Assistants: Natalee Kunkel, Emma Herbert