IQ in high school as a predictor of midlife alcohol drinking patterns

The study examined the relationship between IQ in high school and midlife alcohol consumption patterns. Data from 6300 individuals in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study showed that higher adolescent IQ scores were associated with a higher likelihood of moderate or heavy drinking in midlife, but fewer binge-drinking episodes. A multinomial logistic regression revealed that a one-point increase in IQ score corresponded to a 1.6% increase in the probability of reporting moderate or heavy drinking compared to abstinence. Additionally, the study found that household income partially mediated the relationship between IQ and drinking patterns, while education did not. The results suggest that higher IQ in adolescence may predict specific alcohol consumption patterns in midlife and that this relationship is influenced by factors like income. Further research is recommended to explore additional mediators in subsequent studies.