Relationships can drive some to drink: Relationship-contingent self-esteem and drinking problems
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How much and why individuals in romantic relationships drink alcohol may be a function of both personal and relational influences. The current research examined factors that predict vulnerability to health-related risky behavior (i.e., drinking to cope and drinking problems) in response to relationship difficulties. We consider the possibility that for individuals whose self-worth is contingently tied to the fluctuations of their relationship, feeling less satisfied may predict increased drinking problems; moreover, this may be mediated by drinking to cope. This study evaluated relationship-contingent self-esteem (RCSE) as a moderator of the association between relationship satisfaction and coping motives, which was expected to predict alcohol problems in couples. Both members in committed relationships ( N = 78 dyads) reported relationship satisfaction, RCSE, drinking to cope motives, and alcohol problems in a cross-sectional survey. Actor–Partner Interdependence Model analyses revealed significant mediated moderation among men, such that higher RCSE interacted with lower relationship satisfaction to predict stronger coping motives, in turn predicting increased drinking problems. Implications and future directions are discussed.
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Increased RCSE interacted with less relationship satisfaction to predict stronger coping motives for drinking and consequently, increased alcohol-related problems among men.
“In addition, increased RCSE interacted with less relationship satisfaction to predict stronger coping motives for drinking and consequently, increased alcohol-related problems among men [8].”
From Does Relationship-Contingent Self-Esteem Play a Role in the Stress to Impaired Control Pathway to Alcohol-Related Problems in a College Student Sample? (2023) · cites this paper as [8]
Living with high RCSE insinuates a greater overall stressful life experience.
“These associations suggest that living with high RCSE insinuates a greater overall stressful life experience [8].”
From Does Relationship-Contingent Self-Esteem Play a Role in the Stress to Impaired Control Pathway to Alcohol-Related Problems in a College Student Sample? (2023) · cites this paper as [8]
Consuming alcohol for its anxiolytic properties is a risk factor for alcohol use disorders (AUDs).
“Consuming alcohol for its anxiolytic properties is a risk factor for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) [8,15].”
From Does Relationship-Contingent Self-Esteem Play a Role in the Stress to Impaired Control Pathway to Alcohol-Related Problems in a College Student Sample? (2023) · cites this paper as [8]
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DiBello, A. M., Rodriguez, L. M., Hadden, B. W., & Neighbors, C. (2015) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.05.008 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Self-citationThe impact of relationship-contingent self-esteem on mate retention and reactions to threat
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Kalina, E., Boyd-Frenkel, K., Patock-Peckham, J. A., Schneidewent, L., Broussard, M. L., & Leeman, R. F. (2023) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs13020185 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“In addition, increased RCSE interacted with less relationship satisfaction to predict stronger coping motives for drinking and consequently, increased alcohol-related problems among men [8].”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluential
- Authors
- Rodriguez, L. M., Knee, C. R., & Neighbors, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Houston (US)
- Corresponding author
- Rodriguez, Lindsey M.
- Venue
- Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-07-11
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 270-290
- ISSN
- 0265-4075 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-3608
- OpenAlex
- W2162918748
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4
- FWCI
- 1.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (publishedVersion)
- Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Keywords
- relationship satisfaction, drinking to cope, alcohol problems, coping motives, relationship problems, couples, self-worth, hazardous drinking, actor-partner interdependence
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