title: Drinking and Dating: Examining the Link between Relationship Satisfaction, Hazardous Drinking, and Readiness-to-Change in College Dating Relationships.
abstract: The present study examined the influence of relationship satisfaction on readiness-to-change alcohol use and the influence of hazardous drinking on readiness-to-change relationship issues in college student dating relationships. A sample of 219 college students in a current dating relationship (aged 18-25) completed self-report measures of dating relationship satisfaction, alcohol use, readiness-to-change alcohol use, and readiness-to-change relationship issues via an online survey from August to December 2011. Participants were grouped on the basis of their scores on measures of alcohol use (hazardous drinkers vs. nonhazardous drinkers) and relationship satisfaction (high vs. low). Results indicated that alcohol use was negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, hazardous drinkers with high relationship satisfaction indicated more readiness-to-change alcohol use than hazardous drinkers with low relationship satisfaction. Alcohol problems were not related to readiness-to-change relationship issues. These findings indicate that highly satisfied dating relationships during college may positively influence readiness-to-change heavy drinking habits among college students.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khaddouma
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Ohio University, Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Shorey
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Hope
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brasfield
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Jeniimarie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Febres
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zapor
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elmquist
authors.affiliation: Professor, University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Stuart