Increased Alcohol Use Leads to Short-Lived Marriages, Study Says

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Alcohol dependence can play a strong role in a person’s marriage and cause early separation, according to a study released in the latest issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

The study from Indiana University School of Education found that those who frequently drink alcohol were more likely to get married later in life, and less likely to have a successful, long-lasting marriage.

Beginning in the early 1980s, researchers studied more than 5,000 Australian twins — assessing psychological and physical manifestations of alcohol use, including age at onset of alcohol dependence and the age of the first marriage.

Mary Waldron, assistant professor at the Indiana University School of Education and lead author of the study, said few studies have examined the link between marriage and alcohol.

"Young adults who drink alcohol may want to consider the longer-term consequences for marriage," Waldron said. "If drinking continues or increases to levels of problem use, likelihood of marriage, or of having a lasting marriage, may decrease."

The results of the study showed that problem drinking affects more people than just alcoholics.

Click here to read the full study.