Wed Oct 20, 2010 03:17 PM ET
The next time you're inclined to enjoy an extra glass of wine, consider that it may be a reflection of your intelligence.
That is one of the findings from data from the National Child Development Study in the United Kingdom and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health in the United States.
SEE ALSO: Darker Liquor Makes You Sicker
Childhood intelligence, measured before the age of 16, was categorized in five cognitive classes, ranging from "very dull," "dull," "normal," "bright" and "very bright."
The Americans were revisited seven years later. The British youths, on the other hand, were followed in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Researchers measured their drinking habits as the participants became older.
More intelligent children in both studies grew up to drink alcohol more frequently and in greater quantities than less intelligent children. In the Brits' case, "very bright" children grew up to consume nearly eight-tenths of a standard deviation more alcohol than their "very dull" cohorts.
Researchers controlled for demographic variables -- such as marital status, parents' education, earnings, childhood social class and more -- that may have also affected adult drinking. Still, the findings held true: Smarter kids were drinking more as adults.
discovery news
6 comments:
Makes sense. The smarter you are, the more likely you are to realize there is no hope.
I think the alcohol consumption level ran parallel to the "bullshit I have to put up with" line.
Mr. C - I agree, to a certain extent ignorance really is bliss.
Ted - Yep, no argument here.
i think they can afford to drink more.
I always knew I was really smart. Just didn't know I'd prove it like this. :)
YDG - Could be.
Jill - LOL Yeah, I kept expecting someone to say
"You must have been a freakin' genius as a child then Tex."
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