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Relationship functioning and substance use in same-sex male couples
Tyrel J Starks1, Gabriel Robles2, Stephen C Bosco3
1Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA; Health Psychology and Clinical Science Doctoral Program, Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|June 17, 2019
Summary
Relationship quality is linked to substance use in partnered sexual minority men. Better relationship functioning may reduce drug and alcohol problems, suggesting integrated interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Research indicates a potential inverse relationship between substance use and relationship quality among partnered sexual minority men.
- Couples Interdependence Theory provides a framework for understanding how relationship dynamics influence individual behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if dimensions of relationship functioning predict drug and problematic alcohol use in partnered sexual minority men.
- To test the hypothesis that higher quality relationship functioning is associated with lower substance use.
Main Methods:
- Utilized baseline data from 70 cis-gender male couples in New York City.
- Employed actor-partner interdependence models to analyze relationship functioning and substance use (drug and alcohol).
- Included measures of relationship rewards, costs, barriers, alternatives, investment, and comparison to an ideal.
Main Results:
- Drug use (excluding marijuana) was associated with perceptions of rewards, costs, barriers, and negatively with comparisons to an ideal, alternatives, and investment.
- Partner perceptions of rewards were positively associated with drug use.
- Alcohol use (AUDIT scores) was negatively associated with comparison to an ideal and positively with partner perceptions of alternatives.
- Marijuana use was not significantly related to relationship functioning.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the hypothesis linking relationship functioning and substance use in this population.
- Results underscore the relevance of Couples Interdependence Theory for understanding substance use.
- Suggests integrating relationship skill-building into substance use interventions for partnered sexual minority men.
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