Perhaps the most dramatic epidemiological finding concerning the phenomenon of AUDs in the general population is the peak prevalence in emerging adulthood followed by a precipitous decrease in prevalence in the latter part of the 3rd decade of life. This phenomenon, first described with respect to opiate addiction almost half a century ago as maturing out (Winick, 1962), has received surprisingly little research attention with respect to intrapersonal processes related to maturation. Instead, most researchers and theorists have focused on the life tasks that are normatively undertaken during this period of life and how these tasks inhibit or preclude heavy involvement in substance use (e.g., O’Malley, 2004–2005; Yamaguchi & Kandel, 1985). Results from the current analyses suggest that psychological maturation (i.e., changes in impulsivity and neuroticism) correspond to changes in problematic alcohol involvement, accounting for marriage/parenthood. Specifically, decreases in these personality constructs were associated with decreases in problematic alcohol involvement. These findings suggest that the respective changes in personality and problematic alcohol involvement should be considered from a developmental framework in which changes in these constructs are viewed in the context of each other.
