Alcohol Use and Observed Coercion within Committed Couples: Effects on Daily Satisfaction and Conflict

Introduction: High levels of alcohol use can significantly disrupt romantic relationship satisfaction. Alcohol use increases negative interaction patterns and conflict between couples, which then contribute to the deterioration of relationship satisfaction (see Leonard & Eiden, 2007). Because the vast majority of research on alcohol use and intimate relationships is cross sectional, it is challenging to understand the impact of alcohol use on the daily relationship experience as it unfolds in real time. We studied the joint contribution of observed coercion and alcohol use on diary assessments of relationship satisfaction and conflict over the course of one year among heterosexual committed couples.

Method:Forty-six ethnically diverse adult couples participated in the study. We videotaped discussions on how they met, jealousy, conflict, use of alcohol and drugs, and planning an activity. We then coded macro ratings of relationship coercion for each individual, measured self-reported alcohol use as the average number of drinks over the past three months, and assessed daily relationship satisfaction and conflict through 24 text messages over the course of one year.

Results: Multilevel Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIM) revealed that observed female coercion was associated with lower levels of daily satisfaction for females (actor effect, β = -.60, SE = .15, p < .001) and males (partner effect, β = -.50, SE = .18, p < .01) and higher levels of conflict for females (actor effect, β = .65, SE = .18, p < .01). A higher average number of male drinks, predicted female report of lower satisfaction (partner effect, β = -.38, SE = 0.14, p <.05) and more conflict (β = .52, SE = .18, p< .01).

Conclusions: These findings suggest the value of observed relationship dynamics for predicting the daily quality of intimate relationships and confirm previous findings on alcohol use potentially undermining the relationship quality over time. Interventions that address relationship dynamics and alcohol use in couples may be particularly helpful for promoting long-term relationship quality in committed relationships.