Citation

Veldhuis CB, Hughes TL, Drabble L, Wilsnack SC, Riggle EDB, Rostosky SS. J. Soc. Pers. Relat. 2019; 36(1): 244-268.

Affiliation

Educational, School & Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0265407517726183

PMID

30581248

PMCID

PMC6298438

Abstract

Although marriage tends to be protective against hazardous drinking among women in the general population, few studies have compared drinking rates, levels, or problems based on relationship status among sexual minority women (SMW; lesbian, bisexual). We examined associations between relationship status (committed relationship/cohabiting; committed/not cohabiting; single) and past-year drinking outcomes using data from a diverse sample of 696 SMW interviewed in wave 3 of the 17-year longitudinal Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women study. The mean age of SMW in the sample was 40.01 (SD = 14.15; range 18-82). A little more than one-third (37%) of the sample was white, 36% was African American, and 23% Latina; 4% reported another or multi- race/ethnicity. Compared to SMW in committed cohabiting relationships, single SMW were significantly more likely to be heavy drinkers. SMW in committed non-cohabiting relationships were more likely to report alcohol-related problem consequences, and both single SMW and those in committed non-cohabiting relationships were more likely to report one or more symptoms of potential alcohol dependence.

FINDINGS underscore the importance of exploring relationship factors that may influence drinking and drinking-related problems among SMW.

Language: en

Keywords

alcohol use; bisexual women; hazardous drinking; intimate relationships; lesbian women; same-sex couples