Assortative Mating for Cigarette Smoking and for Alcohol Consumption in Female Australian Twins and their Spouses.

The article presents a study to clarify the mechanisms which contribute to spousal similarity for cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. The data on female twins and their male spouses was examined to determine the role of primary assortative mating and reciprocal marital interaction to spousal resemblance for cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence and for regular alcohol use and alcohol dependence. The cigarette or alcohol involvement of one partner did not significantly modify the other partner's involvement with the psychoactive substances.