NEW YORK – Genetic analyses of behavioral traits like drinking alcohol could be swayed by people who misreport their behavior, for example how much they drink, a new study has found.
Genetic studies of behavioral traits typically rely on questionnaire data, but due to lapses in memory or in an effort to present themselves in a more positive light, people often underreport how much they drink or smoke and overreport how much they exercise. In addition, how much someone drinks, smokes, or exercises can change over time.