A METAANALYSIS OF MULTIPLE LONGITUDINAL-STUDIES FROM THE COLLABORATIVE ALCOHOL-RELATED LONGITUDINAL PROJECT

The authors used individual and group-level variables within age and s ex to predict drinking patterns over time among individuals. Eight lon gitudinal samples of persons age 21-30 years were analyzed separately. Drinking patterns at final measurement were regressed simultaneously on both individual and group-level variables. The first model tested f or marital and drinking status along with group-level mean change in d rinking The second model tested for marital and drinking status along with group-percent married. The third model tested for marital and dri nking status along with percent newly married. Using meta-analysis, th e authors demonstrated significant and homogeneous effects for the thr ee models tested and for group-level mean differences in the first mod el.