Alcoholism Associated With High Childhood IQ

by Terri Potratz | December 22, 2008 at 02:20 pm

1822 views | 9 Recommendations | 9 comments

New research has unearthed a link between high childhood IQ and adult drinking habits - habits which may lead to problem drinking.

This association is even stronger among women than among men. Research by Dr G. David Batty and colleagues at the University of Glasgow, published in the American Journal of Public Health, compared the mental ability scores of 8,170 British boys and girls at the age of 10 with their alcohol intake and any alcohol problems when they were 30.

Whereas most of the clever children grew up to drink as most people do, reasonably and moderately, the likelihood of developing a drinking problem if one were unusually bright increased 1.38 times in women and 1.17 times in men.

A love of liquor is a common trait among many Ivy Leaguers and Oxford-types, who develop their penchant for aged scotch and fine wines during their university years. The causes behind this trend could be numerous; socio-economic factors are likely key, and men and women who are more intelligent likely have more stressful jobs as they enter adulthood.

The study noted that, "the proportion of women with a history of alcohol problems was highest among women from the professional and managerial classes.”

Highly gifted kids are also more likely to be depressed and, in some cases excluded from social groups. In these cases, turning to alcohol is a common route for self-medication.

But the news isn't all bad for highly gifted children - kids with high IQ's are more likely to live longer, indicating that overall they make sound judgements regarding personal health and well-being.

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rpshen

at 15:20 on December 22nd, 2008

This seemed bizarre at first but the articles links intelligence to stress, and stress to substance, which is quite logical.

SJH75

at 00:24 on December 23rd, 2008

Hi Ruoping

of course you can use this photo x

SJH75 has contributed a photo to this story.

mr.ecos

at 03:35 on December 23rd, 2008

Interesting site and story. I hope my photo helps. Thanks for asking.

mr.ecos has contributed a photo to this story.

yancunyong

at 06:26 on December 23rd, 2008

yancunyong, who is now drinking FOUR ROSES, contributed a photo to this story.

Barbara McPherson

at 10:39 on December 23rd, 2008

Self- medication with a nice gin and tonic can't be worse than taking Valium. Does Valium still exist? Just remember, no booze while pregnant or your baby might not have the same high IQ.

Anderson110 (not verified)

at 23:04 on February 22nd, 2009

1. Intervention - this is the initial alcoholism treatment option whereby the drinking problem is recognized and acknowledged by the drinker and perhaps family members or employer as well.

• 2. Detoxification - this alcoholism treatment option usually takes from 4 to 7 days. The more alcohol a person has been drinking each day, the higher the likelihood the person will develop alcohol withdrawal symptoms when they stop.

• 3. Rehabilitation - recovery from alcoholism should include support for the problem drinker once the detoxification phase is completed to help maintain alcohol abstinence.

===========================================

Anderson110

<a href="http://www.alcoholisminformation.org">Alcoholism Information</a>

Anderson110 (not verified)

at 23:05 on February 22nd, 2009

1. Intervention - this is the initial alcoholism treatment option whereby the drinking problem is recognized and acknowledged by the drinker and perhaps family members or employer as well.

• 3. Rehabilitation - recovery from alcoholism should include support for the problem drinker once the detoxification phase is completed to help maintain alcohol abstinence.

===========================================

Anderson110

Alcoholism Information

Anderson110 (not verified)

at 23:08 on February 22nd, 2009

Here are the three main steps in alcoholism treatment...

1. Intervention - this is the initial alcoholism treatment option whereby the drinking problem is recognized and acknowledged by the drinker and perhaps family members or employer as well.

• 3. Rehabilitation - recovery from alcoholism should include support for the problem drinker once the detoxification phase is completed to help maintain alcohol abstinence.

===========================================

Anderson110

Alcoholism Information

Anderson110 (not verified)

at 23:10 on February 22nd, 2009

1. Intervention - this is the initial alcoholism treatment option whereby the drinking problem is recognized and acknowledged by the drinker and perhaps family members or employer as well.

• 3. Rehabilitation - recovery from alcoholism should include support for the problem drinker once the detoxification phase is completed to help maintain alcohol abstinence.

===========================================

Anderson110

Information On Alcoholism