First, congruent with past studies examining alcohol intake and problem drinking (1–4), we found, in a prospective design, an association between marital status and risk for onset of alcohol use disorder. The association was strong, with married men and women having, respectively, a 60% and 71%lower risk for onset of alcohol use disorder compared with individuals who remained single. This mirrors recent epidemiological findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III, in which individuals who were never married had a substantially higher risk for alcohol use disorder in the past year (odds ratio=1.6) compared with those who were married (10). It is also consistent with prior evidence that young adults who remain single have a higher incidence of symptoms of alcohol use disorder (risk ratio=2.1) compared with those who stay or become married (33); that being married is associated with reduced risk for the onset of alcohol use disorder (34); and that getting married is associated with reductions in heavy drinking (2, 4). Our findings are also congruent with evidence that marriage reduces risk for other externalizing behaviors, including crime and drug abuse (19, 35).
