Who Did I Really Marry?

This Longitudinal Study examined the link between alcohol abuse and domestic violence in married couples over a period of four years. All of the couples had just been married at the beginning of this study. During the four-year period of the study, the couples would receive a similar survey yearly that contains questions regarding several factors. The first factor was alcohol related aggression by asking how many times had they hit their spouse in that year while consuming alcohol. Excessive alcohol use, hostility, and alcohol expectancies were the other factors examined in this study. The first model looked at Wife alcohol related aggression and the second model looked at Husband alcohol related aggression. In the Wife alcohol related aggression model there was a significant interaction between wife alcohol use and wife hostility. Similarly, there was a significant interaction between husband use and husband hostility. The alcohol expectancies did not have a significant interaction in either model.

This research just adds to the many studies that support a correlation between alcohol abuse and domestic violence. In addition, this study examined other factors that could be involved in violent behavior when under the influence such as spouse expectations and hostility. This study is important not just for researchers or for newly weds, it’s important for everyone to be educated on the risks of alcohol abuse in relationships. Both husband and wife with high alcohol use and high hostility rates have a much higher rate of becoming violent towards their spouse.

A limitation in this study is looking at the factor of alcohol expectancies in the analysis. The survey asked the participants their expectations of alcohol and aggression in other people and not themselves. There could be a difference in participant’s reports of how they view themselves handling the effects of alcohol compared to how other individuals handle alcohol.   

Another limitation that could be examined in future research is alcohol and aggression in married couples in provocative situations. 

Kachadourian, L. K., Homish, G. G., Quigley, B. M., & Leonard, K. E. (2012). Alcohol expectancies, alcohol use, and hostility as longitudinal predictors of alcohol-related aggression. Psychology of Addiction Behaviors, 26(3), 414-422. doi: 10.1037/a0025842

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