Citation

Smith PH, Homish GG, Leonard KE, Cornelius JR. Addiction 2012; 107(8): 1453-1461.

Affiliation

Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York*, 329 Kimball Tower, Buffalo, New York 14214 Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14203 Department of Psychiatry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Erie County Medical Center, 462 Grider Street, Buffalo, New York 14215 Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Thomas Detre Hall, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03840.x

PMID

22321045

Abstract

Aims:  Marital dissolution is associated with increased risk of problematic drinking. However, marriage to a problem drinker also increases this risk, and ending this type of relationship may actually decrease risk of problematic drinking. This study tested whether women ending their marriage to a problem drinker exhibited improvements in drinking. Design:  National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, a two-wave nationally representative survey of the U.S. adult population. Setting:  In-person interviews conducted in U.S. households. Participants:  Females married or living as if married at wave one at least 18 years of age). Measurements:  Sociodemographics, drinking frequency, drinking quantity, alcohol use disorders, problem drinking, partner problem drinking, and relationship dissolution. Findings:  Ending marriage to a non-problem drinker predicted increased frequency of drinking (risk ratio [RR]= 1.55; 95% CI = 1.43, 1.67), heavier drinking (RR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.71, 1.45), more problematic drinking (RR = 2.45; 95% CI = 2.17, 2.77), and a greater likelihood of use disorder diagnosis (odds ratio [OR]= 2.2; 95% CI = 1.67, 2.91). Ending a relationship with a problem drinker predicted less frequent drinking (RR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.90, 0.98), less heavy drinking (RR = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.78, 0.90), and fewer alcohol related problems (RR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.62, 0.95). Conclusions:  Ending a marriage with a husband who drinks problematically may decrease risk of alcohol related problems among women, substantiating the need for alcohol treatments to address a problem drinking partner.

Language: en