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.

KEYWORDS:

• Dating couples
• alcohol use
• intimate partner violence
• relationship satisfaction
• alcohol expectancies

Notes

1 No differences with regard to ethnicity were found among latent classes.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ashley N. Linden-Carmichael

Ashley N. Linden-Carmichael, M.S., is a doctoral candidate in the Applied Experimental Psychology program at Old Dominion University. Her primary research interests are in psychosocial risk factors associated with alcohol use and caffeinated alcohol use (e.g., Red Bull and vodka) among young adults. She is currently supported by a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F31) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism that examines caffeinated alcohol use and other drinking behaviors using daily diary methodology.

Cathy Lau-Barraco

Cathy Lau-Barraco, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Old Dominion University. Her research focuses on psychosocial determinants and consequences of alcohol use and brief interventions with at-risk populations. She is currently the Principal Investigator of an Early Career (K01) Award from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism that is focused on evaluating a brief drinking intervention for nonstudent young adults.

Michelle L. Kelley

Michelle L. Kelley, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychology at Old Dominion University. Her research focuses on the etiology and treatment of substance use disorders.