Prescription drug misuse among dating partners: Within-couple associations and implications for intimate relationship quality.

Abstract

This study examined the associations between dating partners' misuse of prescription medications and the implications of misuse for intimate relationship quality. A sample of 100 young adult dating pairs completed ratings of prescription drug use and misuse, alcohol use, and relationship quality. Results indicated positive associations between male and female dating partners' prescription drug misuse, which were more consistent for past year rather than lifetime misuse. Dyadic associations obtained through actor-partner interdependence modeling further revealed that individuals' prescription drug misuse holds problematic implications for their own but not their partners' intimate relationship quality. Models accounted for individuals' alcohol-related risk and medically appropriate prescription drug use, suggesting the independent contribution of prescription drug misuse to reports of relationship quality. The findings highlight the importance of considering young adults' substance behaviors in contexts of their intimate relationships.