CS Kaji’s Twin Study Of Alchohol Abuse

Question 1

What was the aim of Kaij’s study of alcohol addiction

Answer 1

To see whether addiction to alcohol could be explained by hereditary factor

Question 2

What was the procedure of Kaij’s study of alcohol addiction

Answer 2

Case study
Used a variety of methods including questionnaires and interviews and some psychological testing, information from birth registers was used along side a public register of alcohol abusers

174 pairs of twins from Sweden where at least one had been registered with the temperance boards (a public register which follows individuals who have problems with alcohol abuse). There were 48 identical twos and 126 non identical giving a total of 348 twin participants. All participants were male and all were born in Sweden after 1880

Kaij conducted interviews with those twins who had an issue with alcoholism to collect info about drinking habits and whether they were identical or non identical twins. In some case, interviews of close relatives were also conducted. Kaij categorised each twin depending on their level of alcohol use. There were 5 categories ranging from not drinking at all to being a chronic alcoholic.

Question 3

Results of Kaij’s study of alcohol addiction

Answer 3

61% of the identical twins were both alcoholic in comparison to 39% of non identical twins
Twins with social problems were overrepresented among temperance board registrants

Question 4

Conclusion of of Kaij’s study of alcohol addiction

Answer 4

There are hereditary factors involved in the levels of alcohol usage and in alcohol addiction