Family Emotional Security and Problem Drinking Among Young Adult Males in Romantic Relationships

Abstract

The current study evaluated the unique associations between three dimensions of emotional security in the family system (security, disengagement, and preoccupation) and problem drinking among romantically partnered males aged 18–30 years. The sample consisted of 49 males who were recruited with their partners as part of a broader study on substance behaviors. It was hypothesized that security in the family system (i.e., secure appraisals) would be negatively related to problematic drinking, whereas insecure appraisals (i.e., preoccupation and disengagement) would be positively related to problematic drinking. It was also hypothesized that living with a substance abuser during childhood would moderate family security–problem drinking associations. Regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses. Disengagement from the family system uniquely predicted higher levels of problematic drinking, accounting for participant age and partner drinking levels. Moderating results showed that the link between disengagement and drinking behaviors was significantly stronger among males who had lived in childhood with someone who abused substances compared to those who did not. The findings encourage consideration of family and romantic relationship contexts as future research and intervention targets for understanding problematic drinking behaviors in young adulthood.