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Related Experiment Videos

Couple communication and female problem drinking: a behavioral observation study.

Adrian B Kelly1, W Kim Halford, Ross M Young

  • 1School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. a.kelly@mailbox.gu.edu.au

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors : Journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors
|September 19, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Marital distress and alcohol problems in women (MDWA couples) show unique communication patterns. MDWA couples exhibit a male-demand-female-withdraw dynamic, differing from other relationship distress types.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Communication Studies
  • Addiction Research

Background:

  • Poor communication is common in couples with alcohol and relationship problems.
  • Limited research exists on communication patterns in maritally distressed couples where the woman abuses alcohol (MDWA).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and characterize the communication patterns of MDWA couples.
  • To compare MDWA couples' communication with maritally distressed couples without alcohol problems (MDNA) and couples with neither problem (NDNA).

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of couple communication patterns.
  • Observation and coding of verbal and non-verbal interactions during couple discussions.

Main Results:

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  • MDWA couples displayed a distinct negative communication pattern.
  • MDWA men exhibited negative speech and positive listening.
  • MDWA women displayed negative listening and positive speech.

    • Conclusions:

    • MDWA couples exhibit a male-demand-female-withdraw communication pattern.
    • This pattern is a gender reversal compared to the female-demand-male-withdraw pattern in MDNA couples.
    • Understanding these specific communication dynamics is crucial for targeted interventions.