Alcohol use problems and conflict among couples: A preliminary investigation of the moderating effects of maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies.

Abstract

Alcohol use can operate as a chronic relationship stressor with adverse influences on individual and relationship functioning, including negative conflict behaviors; however, it remains unclear what modifiable individual-level factors may moderate this association. The current study examined the effects of maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the relation between alcohol use problems and negative relationship conflict behaviors. Participants were 30 couples (N=60) wherein at least one partner engaged in recent hazardous drinking or illicit drug use. Participants completed a measure of maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (i.e., catastrophizing, self-blame, blaming others, rumination) and engaged in a 10-minute dyadic conflict task in the laboratory. Couple conflict behaviors were video-recorded and assessed using a validated coding system. Actor partner interdependence models indicated that (1) men with more maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies displayed more negative relationship conflict behaviors and (2) among women who use fewer maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, those who report alcohol use problems display more negative relationship behaviors than women who report fewer alcohol use problems. These findings suggest that the tendency to engage in fewer maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies buffers the effect of conflict among women without alcohol use problems. Results also suggest that women with alcohol use problems engaged in more negative conflict behaviors regardless of their tendency to use maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies. This research has important implications for integrating emotion regulation skills into alcohol use treatment for women, particularly later in the course of treatment.