title: Daily alcohol use and romantic relationship functioning: evidence of bidirectional, gender-, and context-specific effects.
abstract: Whether beneficial or harmful, cause or effect, the nature of associations between drinking and close relationship processes remains unclear. The present study examined these issues by using daily reports of alcohol use and relationship functioning from 69 heterosexual couples over 3 weeks. Multilevel modeling indicated that alcohol had both positive and negative effects on relationship processes and that effects were more positive for women, and when small amounts were consumed, partners drank together, or they consumed similar amounts. Interestingly, however, positive effects on intimacy and partner behaviors were not mediated by sexual contact. In the reverse direction, women were found to drink more than men in response to relationship difficulties and feeling disconnected from their partner (i.e., low intimacy). Overall findings indicate that associations between drinking and relationship processes are complex and bidirectional and that they may be more important for women than men.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA. alevitt@ria.buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Ash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Levitt
authors.forename: M Lynne
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult