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

Background: Previous research indicates sex and gender differences in drinking patterns in response to relationship conflict. In this study, we examine: a) whether sex and/or gender roles predict drinking alcohol following a romantic conflict, b) if specific emotions experienced following a romantic relationship conflict predict drinking following the conflict, and c) if different emotions explain associations between sex/gender and drinking following conflict.

Method: Participants (N=410; 59.3% females; M age=36.45 [SD=13.24]) completed an online study. Participants reported their biological sex and completed a quantitative measure of gender role orientation. They wrote about a recent significant romantic conflict and then reported the degree to which they experienced 22 emotions as well as the amount of alcohol they consumed following that same conflict.

Results: Approximately one-third of participants drank following the disagreement with an average of 4.65 (SD=2.62) drinks; 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 and negative affect was related to drinking more following conflict; negative emotions were more predictive of drinking than positive emotions. Several negative emotions (e.g., powerless, angry, guilt, unheard) mediated the association between masculinity and number of drinks consumed following conflict. Jealousy and superiority significantly mediated the relationship between femininity and drinking at all following conflict. No emotions mediated the relationship between sex and drinking at all following conflict or femininity and number of drinks consumed.

Conclusions: The current study provides a more nuanced understanding of how biological sex and gender roles relate to specific emotions experienced and drinking behavior following relationship conflict. Results suggest it may be helpful to modify interventions for alcohol problems by clarifying the types of emotions following romantic conflict that should be targeted in more masculine (e.g., powerless, angry) and more feminine (e.g., jealousy, superiority) individuals to help prevent excessive drinking and/or alcohol relapse.