Gender roles, aggression, and alcohol use in dating relationships

We examined the relationship among gender roles (i.e., hypermasculinity and hyperfemininity), psychological maltreatment, verbal and physical aggression, and alcohol use in dating couples. Fifty‐six couples completed questionnaires on adherence to gender‐role identity, psychological maltreatment, verbal and physical abuse, and average alcohol consumption in their current dating relationship. We found that the interaction of hypermasculinity and hyperfemininity in a dating relationship contributes to a man's perception of being verbally abused, a woman's perception of having her self‐esteem attacked, and a man's consumption of liquor. These findings suggest that couples high in the characteristics of hypermasculinity and hyperfemininity may be more at risk for establishing and maintaining abusive relationships.