examining alcohol abuse, perceptions of alcohol abuse, and emotional/verbal aggression in ...

66 Pages·2017·0.78 MB·English

by  Stigall, Logan

EXAMINING ALCOHOL ABUSE, PERCEPTIONS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE, AND
EMOTIONAL/VERBAL AGGRESSION IN ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS USING
MULTIPLE MEASURES

A thesis submitted
To Kent State University in partial
Fulfillment of the requirements for the
Degree of Masters of Arts

by

Logan Alexander Stigall

December, 2017
Thesis written by
Logan Alexander Stigall
B.S., Longwood University, 2015
M.A., Kent State University, 2017

Approved by
Manfred H. M. van Dulmen, PhD , Advisor
Maria S. Zaragoza, PhD , Chair, Department of Psychological Sciences
James L. Blank, PhD , Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………………………...iii
LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………………..iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…………………………………………………………………..........vi

I. EXAMINING ALCOHOL ABUSE, PERCEPTIONS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE, AND
EMOTIONAL/VERBAL AGGRESSION IN ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS
USING MULTIPLE
MEASURES………………………………………………....................................1
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………….…………………1
METHODS…………………………………………………………….……………...5
RESULTS………………………………………………………...………………….10
DISCUSSION………………………………………………………………………..16

REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………..21
APPENDICES
A. Partner Issues Checklist (PIC)……………………………………………………….48
B. Plan-A-Date Weekend……………………………………………………………….50
C. Daily Drinking Questionnaire………………………………………………………..52
D. Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS) ……………………………………………...54
E. Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory…………………………..…56
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Descriptive Information for Variables (N = 221-255) ………….………….……….….26
Table 2. Bivariate Correlations of Female and Male Alcohol Abuse, Perceptions of Partners’
Alcohol Abuse, Romantic Relationship Satisfaction, Observationally Assessed EVA, and
Self-Reported EVA (N = 199-254) ………….………….………….………….……...…28
Table 3. Summary of Actor-Partner Interdependence Model for Perceptions of Alcohol Abuse
Predicting Relationship Satisfaction (N = 258, Model with Combined Variables)
………….………….………….………….………….………….………….…………….29
Table 4. Summary of Actor-Partner Interdependence Model for Perceptions of Alcohol Abuse
Predicting Relationship Satisfaction (N = 258, Model with Partner Perception of Getting
Drunk) ………….………….………….………….………….………….……………….31
Table 5. Summary of Actor-Partner Interdependence Model for Perceptions of Alcohol Abuse
Predicting Relationship Satisfaction (N = 258, Model with Partner Perception of Days
Drunk) ………….………….………….………….………….………….……………….33
Table 6. Summary of Actor-Partner Interdependence Model for Perceptions of Alcohol Abuse
Predicting Observed and Self-Reported Perpetration of EVA (N = 258, Model with
Combined Variables) ………….………….………….………….………….………..….35
Table 7. Summary of Actor-Partner Interdependence Model for Perceptions of Alcohol Abuse
Predicting Observed and Self-Reported Perpetration of EVA (N = 258, Model with
Partner Perception of Getting Drunk and Getting Drunk) ………….………….………..38
Table 8. Summary of Actor-Partner Interdependence Model for Perceptions of Alcohol Abuse
Predicting Observed and Self-Reported Perpetration of EVA (N = 258, Model with
Partner Perception of Getting Drunk and Binge Drinking) ………….………….………40
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Table 9. Summary of Actor-Partner Interdependence Model for Perceptions of Alcohol Abuse
Predicting Observed and Self-Reported Perpetration of EVA (N = 258, Model with
Partner Perception of Days Drunk and Getting Drunk) ………….………….…………..43
Table 10. Summary of Actor-Partner Interdependence Model for Perceptions of Alcohol Abuse
Predicting Observed and Self-Reported Perpetration of EVA (N = 258, Model with
Partner Perception of Days Drunk and Binge Drinking) ………….………….…………46

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Acknowledgements
I am incredibly thankful for the many people who helped me throughout my time in
graduate school. I would first like to thank my advisor, Dr. Manfred van Dulmen, for giving me
the opportunity to attend this program. I would like to thank my committee members: Dr. Jen
Taber, Dr. John Updegraff, and Dr. Joel Hughes. I would also like to thank my lab mates,
Haylee, Liz, and Karly, who have been so amazing ever since my first visit to Ohio. I am
especially thankful for Dr. Sarai Blincoe for her help, wisdom, and positive attitude during my
undergraduate and graduate career. Thank you, mom, for your never-ending support. Thank you,
dad, for never doubting me or any of my decisions. Thank you, Sarah Jane, for teaching me
responsibility and unconditional love. Thank you, Suzie, for reminding me to stay on schedule
and be persistent. Thank you, Weasley, for reminding me that there is always something to be
happy about. And finally, thank you, Andrew, for encouraging me to follow my passions.

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Introduction
Both alcohol use (Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2006) and romantic
relationships (Roisman, Masten, Coatsworth, & Tellegen, 2004) are prevalent in young
adulthood. However, unlike alcohol moderate use, defined as one alcoholic drink a day for
women or two alcoholic drinks a day for men (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017),
studies show alcohol abuse is detrimental to romantic relationship functioning (e.g., Fischer,
Fitzpatrick, Cleveland, McKnight, & Miller, 2005; Homish, Leonard Kozlowski, & Cornelius,
2009; Testa & Derick, 2014). According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention,
alcohol abuse is defined as a misuse or excess use of alcohol. The current study focuses on two
types of alcohol abuse: binge drinking and getting drunk, both of which typically result in acute
intoxication. Binge drinking is defined as having 5 or more drinks (for males) or 4 or more
drinks (for females) on the same occasion and getting drunk is the result of consuming excessive
amounts of alcohol (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Alcohol abuse is
associated with negative romantic relationship outcomes such as poor conversations qualities
(Fischer et al., 2005), low relationship satisfaction (Homish et al., 2009), and high rates of
aggression (Testa & Derrick, 2014). Though the link between alcohol abuse and relationship
outcomes is well established, there is little research on perception of partner’s alcohol abuse and
relationship outcomes. Understanding perceptions of partner’s alcohol abuse is important
because studies have shown it is associated with relationship satisfaction (Rodriguez, DiBello, &
Neighbors, 2013; Rodriguez & Neighbors, 2015). Therefore, more research is needed to examine
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if perceptions of partner’s alcohol abuse extend to other relationship outcomes, such as
emotional/verbal aggression.
Perceptions of Partner’s Alcohol Abuse and Relationship Satisfaction
Rodriguez and colleagues (2013) have played a large role in extending the literature on
perceptions of partner’s alcohol abuse and romantic relationship outcomes. In a cross-sectional
study, undergraduate students in committed romantic relationships completed questionnaires
regarding their own alcohol abuse, perceptions of their partner’s alcohol abuse, and romantic
relationship satisfaction. Due to the novelty of the research question on perceptions of partner’s
alcohol abuse, Rodriguez and colleagues (2013) developed a measure for the study called
Thinking about your Partner’s Drinking scale (TPD). Participants responded to the 26-item
questionnaire using a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree);
examples of items on this measure include, “My partner’s drinking is a source of strain on our
relationship,” “My partner and I have arguments about his or her drinking,” and “I think my
partner has a problem controlling his or her drinking.” Using this measure, there was a
significant association between perceptions of partner’s alcohol abuse and relationship
satisfaction in the college sample; when one partner perceived that his/her partner is abusing
alcohol, there was lower satisfaction in the relationship. Additionally, they found that this
association was weaker among participants who also perceived themselves to abuse alcohol
(Rodriguez et al., 2013). Using the same scale, Rodriguez and Neighbors (2015) examined the
association between perceptions of partner’s alcohol abuse and romantic relationship quality
with a married sample. Including data from both married partners, they found that the perception
of alcohol abuse was negatively associated with romantic relationship quality. Moreover, they
found the effect was stronger for husbands as compared to wives (Rodriguez & Neighbors,
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2015). Therefore, these results suggest perception of partner’s alcohol abuse, and one’s own
alcohol abuse, is important for romantic relationship satisfaction. However, unlike research on
actual alcohol abuse (e.g., Fischer et al, 2005; Testa & Derrick, 2014), researchers have failed to
extend findings on perceptions of partner’s alcohol abuse to other relationship outcomes beyond
romantic relationship satisfaction.
Alcohol Abuse and Emotional/Verbal Aggression
The current study examines emotional/verbal aggression (EVA) as the romantic
relationship outcome. EVA is an ineffective conflict resolution style and is defined as the
intention to negatively affect someone’s emotional well-being through the use of verbal
comments (Wolfe et al., 2001). It is a prevalent form of aggression in romantic relationships;
nearly half of all men and women in the United States report having experienced EVA from their
romantic partner (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). EVA is associated with
negative health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and poorer overall health (Jordan,
Campbell, & Follingstad, 2010). Moreover, EVA is a risk factor for later physical aggression
(Murphy & O’Leary, 1989). Due to the prevalence of and negative outcomes associated with
EVA, it is important to understand what predicts EVA. Though empirical research has identified
several predictors of EVA, including depressive symptoms (Capaldi, Knoble, Shortt, & Kim,
2012), difficulties with emotion regulation (Harper, Austin, Cercone, & Arias, 2005), and self-
control (Baker, Klipfel, & van Dulmen, 2016), alcohol abuse appears to be particularly important
for understanding EVA (Leadley, Clark, & Caetano, 2000; Moore, Elkins, McNulty, Kivisto, and
Handsel, 2011; Testa & Derrick, 2014). For instance, EVA often co-occurs with alcohol
consumption. Using a daily diary design with a community sample of married and cohabitating
couples, Testa and Derrick (2014) found that drinking alcohol by either partner in the four
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preceding hours was enough to increase the likelihood of perpetrating verbal aggression.
Moreover, there was a positive association between number of drinks and EVA. Moore et al.
(2011) found that alcohol use was associated with 2.19 greater odds of psychological aggression,
and that more drinks was associated with even greater odds of psychological aggression. Unlike
Testa and Derrick (2014) who found no gender differences, Moor et al. (2011) found that men
were more likely to engage in psychological aggression on the days they drank alcohol compared
to women. Because EVA is associated with negative health outcomes and alcohol abuse, it is
important to also investigate its association with perceptions of partner’s alcohol abuse.
Researchers have examined the dyadic association between alcohol abuse and EVA by
using data from both individuals in the couple (e.g., Leadley et al., 2000; Testa & Derrick, 2014).
In a cross-sectional study with a nationally representative sample of married and cohabitating
couples, Leadley et al. (2000) found that couples with discrepant drinking behaviors, compared
to those with similar drinking behaviors, were more likely to experience relationship difficulties,
including alcohol related arguments. With the use of dyadic data, we are able to see the influence
romantic partners have on themselves, as well as the influence they have on their partners.
Therefore, it is important to use data from both partners in the relationship.
Using dyadic data is important because relationship processes like EVA are dyadic in
nature, meaning both partners impact their own and each other’s EVA. Therefore, use of dyadic
data has important implications for couple therapy because it examines partners’ influence on
one another. However, research on EVA and its association with alcohol use has largely been
assessed using self-report measures, which can be biased with underreporting (Arias & Beach,
1987). Therefore, I extend this work to assessments of EVA using observational methodology
(van Dulmen, Mata, & Klipfel, 2012). The use of observational measures of EVA also has
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