Symposium 24 - Romantic relationship conflict and addictive behaviors: Mechanisms, gender differences, and treatment

Chair(s)

• SS

  Sherry Stewart, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

  Dalhousie University, Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology and Neuroscience
  Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• LR

  Lindsey Rodriguez, Ph.D.

  Associate Professor
  University of South Florida
  St Petersburg, Florida, United States

Discussant(s)

• JD

  Jaye Derrick, M.A., Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

  Associate Professor
  University of Houston
  Houston, Texas, United States

Presenter(s)

• AH

  Amanda Hagen, B.S. (she/her/hers)

  Doctoral Student & Psychology Intern
  Dalhousie University
  Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• SS

  Sherry Stewart, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

  Dalhousie University, Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology and Neuroscience
  Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• LR

  Lindsey Rodriguez, Ph.D.

  Associate Professor
  University of South Florida
  St Petersburg, Florida, United States
• SG

  Sarah Giff, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Medical University of South Carolina, Ralph H. Johnso VA Medical Center
  Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Romantic conflict has been established as a risk factor for a variety of addictive behaviors, and targeting conflict is one critical component of treatment. In this set of talks by a diverse set of researchers from different countries, career stages, and disciplinary backgrounds, we present research using several research designs (i.e., experimental, dyadic, RCT), addictive behaviors (i.e., drinking, cannabis use, gambling), and samples (i.e., community-recruited substance users or gamblers, treatment seeking couples). We also present findings on potential underlying mechanisms. First, Amanda Hagen (Clinical Psychology Grad Student, Dalhousie University, Canada) will discuss findings from a dyadic study examining emotional disorder symptoms and coping motives as serial mediators of the association between romantic conflict and cannabis use in a sample of dual-cannabis-using couples. The hypothesized serial mediation pathway via actor effects (i.e., romantic conflict to cannabis use via depression/anxiety and coping motives) was supported for the total sample and for women, but not for men. Partner effects were also detected. Then, Dr. Sherry Stewart (Professor of Psychiatry, Dalhousie, Canada) will present data using a similar actor-partner interdependence mediational model examining links between conflict and problem gambling via depression and coping motives in a sample of couples where one partner gambles regularly. Gamblers’ own conflict behaviors were linked to their gambling problems via their own depressive symptoms and own coping motives. Additionally, mediational pathways illustrating partner cross-over effects were found. Third, Dr. Lindsey Rodriguez (Associate Professor of Social Psychology, University of Florida, USA) will present research evaluating gender differences in emotions experienced immediately following a recent significant relationship conflict, and whether these differences in emotions explain differences in alcohol consumption following the conflict. Males and those reporting greater masculinity were more likely to drink (and drank more) following conflict. Experiencing greater overall positive and negative affect was related to a higher likelihood of drinking; negative affect was related to drinking more following conflict. Several negative emotions (e.g., powerless, angry, guilt, unheard) mediated the association between masculinity and number of drinks consumed following conflict. Fourth, Dr. Sarah Giff (Postdoctoral Fellow, Addiction Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, USA) will present on an RCT testing the addition of oxytocin (vs. placebo) to outcomes of Alcohol Behavioral Couples Therapy (telehealth or in person delivery) for treatment seeking couples with 1+ member with an alcohol use disorder. In this sample of relationally distressed couples, better retention was achieved with telehealth vs. in person delivery; results for oxytocin effects on alcohol consumption and dyadic function will be shared. We will end with an integrative discussion by substance use and relationship expert Dr. Jaye Derrick (Professor of Social, Personality, & Health Psychology, University of Houston, USA) on what these findings mean for researchers and clinicians.

Presentations:

• 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST

  (SYM 24) Romantic Conflict and Coping-motivated Cannabis Use: An Actor-partner Interdependence Serial Mediation Model
  

  Speaker: Amanda Hagen, B.S. (she/her/hers) – Dalhousie University

  Co-author: Lindsey M. Rodriguez, Ph.D. – University of South Florida

  Co-author: Clayton Neighbors, PhD – University of Houston

  Co-author: Simon Sherry, PhD – Department of Psychology and Neuroscience; Department of Psychiatry; Dalhousie University

  Co-author: Raquel Nogueira-Arjona, PhD – University of Sussex

  Co-author: Helene Deacon, PhD – Dalhousie University

  Co-author: Sherry H. Stewart, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Dalhousie University, Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology and Neuroscience
• 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST

  (SYM 24) A Dyadic Study of a Serial Mediational Model Linking Romantic Conflict to Problematic Gambling Through Each Partner's Depressive Symptoms and Gamblers' Coping Motives
  

  Speaker: Sherry H. Stewart, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Dalhousie University, Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology and Neuroscience

  Co-author: Debra Gilin, PhD (she/her/hers) – St Mary's University

  Co-author: Franco DiBonaventura, BSc – Dalhousie University

  Co-author: Lindsey M. Rodriguez, Ph.D. – University of South Florida

  Co-author: Amanda Hagen, B.S. (she/her/hers) – Dalhousie University

  Co-author: Sean Mackinnon, PhD (he/him/his) – Dalhousie University

  Co-author: Raquel Nogueira-Arjona, PhD – University of Sussex

  Co-author: Igor Yakovenko, PhD (he/him/his) – Dalhousie University

  Co-author: Simon Sherry, PhD – Department of Psychology and Neuroscience; Department of Psychiatry; Dalhousie University
• 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST

  (SYM 24) Gender Differences in Emotions Experienced After Romantic Conflict and the Link with Subsequent Alcohol Use
  

  Speaker: Lindsey M. Rodriguez, Ph.D. – University of South Florida

  Co-author: Jennifer Leckey, MS – Dalhousie University

  Co-author: Sean Mackinnon, PhD (he/him/his) – Dalhousie University

  Co-author: Catrina Brown, PhD – Dalhousie University

  Co-author: Simon Sherry, PhD – Department of Psychology and Neuroscience; Department of Psychiatry; Dalhousie University

  Co-author: Raquel Nogueira-Arjona, PhD – University of Sussex

  Co-author: Sherry H. Stewart, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Dalhousie University, Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology and Neuroscience
• 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST

  (SYM 24) Does Intranasal Oxytocin Improve Outcomes in Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy? Results from a Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial
  

  Speaker: Sarah Giff, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Medical University of South Carolina, Ralph H. Johnso VA Medical Center

  Co-author: Julianne C. Flanagan, Ph.D. – Medical University of South Carolina; Ralph H. Johnson VAMC

  Co-author: Barbara McCrady, Ph.D. – University of New Mexico

  Co-author: Paul Nietert, PhD – Medical University of South Carolina, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

  Co-author: Stacey Sellers, M.S. – Medical University of South Carolina

  Co-author: Michaela Hoffman, Ph.D. – Medical University of South Carolina

  Co-author: Jessica Brower, MA – Georgia State University