College Student Dating Partner Drinking Profiles: Differences in Relationship Functioning and Relationship-Specific Alcohol Expectancies

Abstract

Background Although the majority of research on partner drinking styles has examined married couples, dating partners may influence one another's problem behaviors including alcohol use. Objectives This study identified patterns of at-risk alcohol use in college women and their dating partners using a person-centered statistical approach (i.e., latent profile analysis). Methods Participants were 286 college student women in dating relationships. They completed questionnaires regarding their own and their partners’ drinking, alcohol use severity, intimate partner violence (IPV), relationship satisfaction, and relationship-specific alcohol expectancies. Data were collected in 2012 through 2013. Results Results revealed three distinct, latent classes based on both partners’ alcohol outcomes. The “Low-Risk” group (58%) consisted of non-heavy drinking partners. In the “High-Risk – Higher Men” class (27%), men drank more than women; however, both men and women were high-risk drinkers. The “High-Risk – Higher Women” group (15%) consisted of high-risk drinking partners but women consumed more alcohol than men. Both high-risk couple groups were more dissatisfied in their relationships and experienced more IPV, but held stronger beliefs about how alcohol influenced their relationship. Conclusions/Importance Findings indicate that there are several distinct classes of dating couples that differ in relationship problems and beliefs about alcohol’s impact on their relationship. Riskier couples differ in behaviors and alcohol-related beliefs from low-risk couples. These findings may inform the development of more efficacious alcohol interventions tailored toward high-risk drinking dating couples.

Similarity in Romantic Couples’ Drinking Motivations and Drinking Behaviors

“…Given previous research on the importance of alcohol consumption in romantic relationships, 11,[13][14][15] the present study sought to investigate similarity of both drinking behavior and drinking motivations in romantic couples. Results suggested that couples are more similar in their drinking behavior profiles than expected by chance, consistent with prior research on alcohol consumption similarity in couples.…”

“…As evidence of this, romantic partners influence each others’ heavy episodic drinking over periods up to 3 years, suggesting that heavy drinking should be considered a couples’ issue instead of just an individual issue. 12 Drinking partnerships have also been associated with relationship satisfaction, with heavy drinking couples typically reporting less satisfaction 13 and increased intimate partner violence. 14 Moreover, discrepancy in drinking within couples is associated with more alcohol-related problems and consequences over time 15…”

“…Given previous research showing the importance of drinking behavior in romantic couples, 11,[13][14][15] we investigated whether couples are similar in drinking behaviors and as well as drinking motivations. Although drinking behavior similarity has been investigated in couples, prior research largely focuses on the outcomes associated with increased similarity (e.g., increased relationship satisfaction) 18 and less on predictors of couples' similarity.…”

Cumulative Violence Exposure and Alcohol Use Among College Students: Adverse Childhood Experiences and Dating Violence

“…While rates of violence vary, DV has been consistently associated with increased alcohol use among college students (Dardis et al, 2015;Shorey et al, 2011), with alcohol use linked to partner violence (Devries et al, 2014;Shorey et al, 2011). Furthermore, violence among dating couples has been associated with high-risk drinking (Linden-Carmichael et al, 2016). These studies have informed intervention efforts to decrease alcohol use (see review by Samson & Tanner-Smith, 2015) and to increase bystander interventions to reduce DV on college campuses (Coker et al, 2015;Fleming, Wiersma-Mosley, 2015).…”

Drinking motives and drinking behaviors in romantic couples: A longitudinal actor-partner interdependence model.

“…Congruence of drinking patterns between partners is associated with relationship satisfaction (Homish & Leonard, 2007). Thus, drinking partnerships may sometimes be beneficial to relationship functioning (e.g., Linden-Carmichael, Lau-Barraco, & Kelley, 2016).…”