Alcohol Expectancies and Evaluations of Aggression in Alcohol-Related Intimate-Partner Verbal and Physical Aggression

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective: Alcohol aggression expectancies have been found to be associated with increases in aggressive behavior. However, research has not consistently examined evaluations of such behavior. This is unfortunate as both expectancies and evaluations may play a role in whether such behavior will occur. Given this, the current study crosssectionally examined the associations between alcohol aggression expectancies, evaluations of alcohol-related aggression, indicators of excessive drinking, and alcohol-related verbal and physical aggression. Method: The sample consisted of 280 married and cohabiting couples. These couples reported on excessive drinking indicators, alcohol expectancies and evaluations, and alcohol-related verbal and physical aggression during the past year. Results: Findings showed that verbal aggression was positively associated with indicators of excessive drinking among females and with alcohol aggression expectancies for females who evaluated such aggression positively. For males, aggression expectancies and indicators of excessive drinking were positively associated with verbal aggression. For physical aggression, results showed that indicators of excessive drinking and aggression expectancies were associated with physical aggression for females. For males, aggression expectancies were positively associated and evaluations were negatively associated with physical aggression. Conclusions: These fi ndings add to previous research on alcohol aggression expectancies in close relationships and emphasize the importance of considering evaluations of alcohol-related behavior and how they may play a role in intimate-partner violence and aggression. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 75, 744-752, 2014)

Longitudinal analysis of alcohol use and intimate partner violence perpetration among men with HIV in northern Vietnam

“…For proportion days alcohol abstinent and AUD, increases in alcohol use at one time point increased the odds of IPV perpetration at the same time point. These observed effects may be explained by the proximal effects model, which is used to explain the acute effects of alcohol use on IPV perpetration (Crane et al, 2016;Kachadourian et al, 2014;Reyes et al, 2012). According to this model, the immediate intoxication effects of alcohol increases an individual's focus on insult or anger and reduces focus on affection or empathy, leading to an inability to use nonaggressive conflict resolution strategies with a partner (Clements and Schumacher, 2010;Crane et al, 2016).…”

“…According to this model, the immediate intoxication effects of alcohol increases an individual's focus on insult or anger and reduces focus on affection or empathy, leading to an inability to use nonaggressive conflict resolution strategies with a partner (Clements and Schumacher, 2010;Crane et al, 2016). This model also suggests that individuals' expectancies about the link between alcohol and violence are activated when they are intoxicated, leading to aggression (Kachadourian et al, 2014;Quigley and Leonard, 2006). Additionally, lower average proportion days alcohol abstinent, and higher average heavy drinking and AUD across the study increased the odds of IPV perpetration.…”

“…Due to the differences in recall periods across study visits, the outcome will be referred to as "recent IPV perpetration." As the number of recent IPV events were skewed, the outcome variable was dichotomized to those who reported perpetrating psychological, physical, or sexual IPV psychopharmacological effects of alcohol, such as lowered inhibitions or distorted perceptions of cues, or through expectancy effects regarding the link between intoxication and aggression (Crane et al, 2016;Kachadourian et al, 2014;Reyes et al, 2012). Second, alcohol use may lead to increased relationship conflict, in turn leading to IPV perpetration (Fischer et al, 2005;Fischer and Wiersma, 2012;White and Chen, 2002).…”

“…Daily diary studies offer an optimal approach for establishing temporality when estimating time-varying effects o f alcohol use on IPV perpetration (Sheehan and Lau-Barraco, 2019;Shorey et al, 2014). Nonetheless, the link between alcohol use and IPV perpetration is commonly explained by the immediate psychopharmacological effects o f a lcohol u se o n a ggression ( Crane e t a l., 2016; Kachadourian et al, 2014;Reyes et al, 2012), suggesting that it is…”

Pathways from Positive, Negative, and Specific Alcohol Expectancies to Weekday and Weekend Drinking to Alcohol Problems

“…In contrast, drinkers who consume at higher rates during the weekend were more likely to possess sociability and liquid courage expectancies and therefore might benefit from informational messages that address and reduce these risk perceptions. Risk and aggression expectancy was predictive of weekday drinking, weekend drinking, and alcohol problems, so prevention programs targeting the expectation that alcohol could be consumed to facilitate aggressive acts might benefit from strategies designed to help channel these beliefs into more constructive behaviors (Kachadourian, Quigley, & Leonard, 2014). Weekday and weekend use both contributed uniquely to alcohol problems, so training drinkers on how to be mindful in applying protective behavioral strategies during events where alcohol is served could curtail risks for deleterious consequences (Brett, Leffingwell, & Leavens, 2017).…”