Interestingly, marked developmental changes in problematic alcohol involvement also occur in this same timeframe. The “maturing out” (Winick, 1962) of problematic alcohol involvement is characterized by the peak prevalence of alcohol use and problems in the early twenties before declining as individuals grow older (e.g., Bachman et al., 2002; Fillmore, 1988; Jessor, Donovan, & Costa, 1991; Yamaguchi & Kandel, 1985; see O’Malley, 2004–2005). As with personality, these developmental changes in heavy drinking and AUDs are thought to be influenced by the acquisition of adult roles (O’Malley, 2004–2005). Notably, a number of studies suggest that adult role transitions (and/or satisfaction in adult roles and relationships) are linked to both declines in problematic alcohol involvement (e.g., Bachman et al., 2002; Bachman, Wadsworth, O’Malley, Johnston, & Schulenberg, 1997; Kearns-Bodkin & Leonard, 2005; Leonard & Rothbard, 1999; Gotham, Sher, & Wood, 2003) and changes in personality that suggest maturity (e.g., increased emotional stability; Neyer & Lehnart, 2007; Roberts & Chapman, 2000; Roberts, Helson, & Klohnen, 2002; Robins, Caspi, & Moffitt, 2002; Scollen & Diener, 2006; see Roberts & Mroczek, 2008).
