Advancing our understanding of the intersection between emotion regulation and alcohol and drug use problems: Dyadic analysis in couples with intimate partner violence and alcohol use disorder. (1st November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weiss, Nicole H.; Hogan, Jasara; Brem, Meagan; Massa, Andrea A.; Kirby, Charli M.; Flanagan, Julianne C.
• Is Part Of: Drug and alcohol dependence. Volume 228(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11-01
• Subjects: Intimate partner violence -- Cognitive emotion regulation -- Alcohol use problems -- Drug use problems -- Dyadic analysis; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109066
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0376-8716

Abstract

Abstract: Background: An extensive body of literature has linked emotion regulation to alcohol and drug use problems, including among populations characterized by intimate partner violence (IPV). Advancing this research, the goal of the current study was to examine cognitive emotion regulation strategies and alcohol and drug use problems within a dyadic framework. Specifically, we examined actor and partner effects of maladaptive and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies on alcohol and drug use problems. Methods: Eighty-four romantic couples ( N = 168 total participants) participating in a randomized controlled trial who reported physical IPV and an alcohol use disorder completed self-reported measures of cognitive emotion regulation as well as alcohol and drug use problems. Results: Regarding actor effects, men's greater use of maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies was positively related to their alcohol use problems ( p < .001), whereas both women's ( p = .02) and men's ( p = .047) greater use of adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies was negatively related to their own alcohol use problems. In terms of partner effects, men's greater use of maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies ( p = .001) and less use of adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies ( p = .017) was related to their partners' greater drug use problems. Conclusions: Findings replicate and extend existing work in this area, showing that men's and women's emotion regulation strategies are related to their own alcohol and drug use problems and that men's cognitive emotion regulation strategies are also related to their partners' drug use problems. Highlights: Men's maladaptive strategies were positively related to their own alcohol problems Women's adaptive strategies were negatively related to their own alcohol problems Men's maladaptive strategies positively related to their partners' drug problems Men's adaptive strategies negatively related to their partners' drug problems