Abstract
The partner influence hypothesis postulates one partner's alcohol use influences the other partner's alcohol use over time. Although several studies have examined the partner influence hypothesis, the magnitude and gender-specific nature of partner influences on alcohol use are unclear and have yet to be examined meta-analytically. We addressed this by conducting a traditional bivariate meta-analysis and two-stage meta-analytic structural equation modeling across 17 studies (N = 10,553 couples). Studies that assessed both romantic partners' alcohol use at a minimum of two time-points were selected. Results suggest romantic partners do influence one another's drinking, to a small but meaningful degree, with women (β =.19) exerting a statistically stronger (p <.05) influence than men (β =.12). Results also suggest time lag between assessment, alcohol indicator, married, and year of publication may moderate partner influence. Thus, social influences on individual alcohol use include important partner influences. These influences can serve either risk or protective functions. Given the economic, social, and health consequences associated with alcohol misuse, advancing knowledge of social risk factors for alcohol misuse is essential. Therefore, assessment and treatment of alcohol misuse should extend beyond the person to the social context. We encourage clinicians to consider involving romantic partners when assessing and treating alcohol misuse.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 629-640 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Psychology of Addictive Behaviors |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was funded by an operating grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) awarded to Sherry H. Stewart, Simon B. Sherry, and Kenneth E. Leonard [Grant 435-2015-1798]. Sherry H. Stewart was supported through a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Addictions and Mental Health. Lydia Muyingo was supported through a Scotia Support award from the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, a Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship from the Government of Nova Scotia, and a SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship Masters award. The funding sources had no involvement in data collection, analysis and interpretation, in the writing of the report, or in the decision to submit the article for publication. Preliminary findings were presented at the first Research Initiative in Substance Misuse Maritimes Symposium in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on December 5th, 2017, and at the 79th Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, June 26 through 30th, 2018. A portion of the results were presented at the 42nd Research Society on Alcoholism Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 22 through 26th, 2019, and the 80th CPA Meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, May 31st through June 2nd 2019.
Funding Information:
This study was funded by an operating grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) awarded to Sherry H. Stewart, Simon B. Sherry, and Kenneth E. Leonard [Grant 435-2015-1798]. Sherry H. Stewart was supported through a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Addictions and Mental Health. Lydia Muyingo was supported through a Scotia Support award from the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, a Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship from the Government of Nova Scotia, and a SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship Masters award. The funding sources had no involvement in data collection, analysis and interpretation, in the writing of the report, or in the decision to submit the article for publication.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 American Psychological Association.
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
