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College Student Dating Partner Drinking Profiles: Differences in Relationship Functioning and Relationship-Specific
Ashley N Linden-Carmichael1, Cathy Lau-Barraco1, Michelle L Kelley1
1a Department of Psychology , Old Dominion University , Norfolk , Virginia , USA.
College women and their dating partners exhibit distinct alcohol use patterns. High-risk drinking couples report more relationship problems and intimate partner violence, suggesting targeted interventions are needed.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Dating partners' alcohol use significantly influences individual behaviors.
- Research has primarily focused on married couples, leaving a gap in understanding dating relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify distinct patterns of at-risk alcohol use among college women and their dating partners.
- Utilize a person-centered statistical approach (latent profile analysis) to classify couple drinking styles.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 286 college women in dating relationships.
- Collected data on individual and partner drinking, alcohol use severity, intimate partner violence (IPV), relationship satisfaction, and alcohol expectancies.
- Employed latent profile analysis to identify drinking patterns.
Main Results:
- Three distinct couple alcohol use profiles emerged: Low-Risk, High-Risk - Higher Men, and High-Risk - Higher Women.
- High-risk drinking couples (both profiles) reported lower relationship satisfaction and higher rates of IPV.
- High-risk couples also demonstrated stronger beliefs regarding alcohol's influence on their relationship.
Conclusions:
- Dating couples exhibit diverse alcohol use patterns, impacting relationship dynamics.
- High-risk drinking is associated with relationship dissatisfaction and violence, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.
- Findings can inform the development of effective alcohol interventions for at-risk dating couples.
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