Heavy and problem drinkers are at increased risk not only for never marrying, but divorce (Chilcoat & Breloau, 1996; Power, Rogers, & Hope, 1999; Temple, Fillmore, Hartka, Johnstone, Leino, & Motoyoshi, 1991; Yamaguchi & Kandel, 1995), suggesting processes related to maintenance of stable relationships may also contribute to AD associations with reproductive delay. In the present study, prevalence of marital separation or divorce was very low for the older cohort, with restrictive divorce laws prior to 1975 one factor. Prevalence of marital separation or divorce was also low for the young cohort, but may increase in future years as more of these twins marry. The role of marital dissolution in the young cohort will need to be re-visited as follow-up data on this cohort are collected.
