A new study examined whether being in a romantic relationship is associated with alcohol use (i.e., amount and frequency of drinking, binge drinking, and drunkenness) and negative consequences (i.e., having a hangover, missing class, getting behind in school work, doing something that was later regretted, forgetting where they were/what they did, having unplanned sex, and getting hurt/injured). Participants (N = 572) were undergraduate students attending a Midwestern University. Participants completed an online survey, which included a series of questions related to drinking behaviors, negative consequences of drinking, relationship status and demographics. The authors used t-tests to explore drinking behaviors by gender as well as regression models for further data analysis. Results indicated that in comparison to those in a committed relationship, single men reported consuming a higher average number of drinks (p < .007), and more frequently feeling drunk (p < .02) and drinking to get drunk (p < .02). Similarly, single women reported consuming a higher average number of drinks (p < .039) and more frequently feeling drunk (p < .006) as well as drinking to get drunk (p < .001) than participant women who were in a committed relationship. On the other hand, for both men and women participants, drinking days per month and binge drinking did not significantly vary by relationship status. With respect to negative drinking outcomes, men and women participants differed in how frequently they experienced hangovers, with men reporting a higher average frequency than women (p < .001). In addition, single men more frequently reported doing something that was later regretted. As for women and negative outcomes, single women reported more frequently experiencing feeling hungover (p < .001), missing class (p < .003), getting behind in school work (p < .000), doing something that was later regretted (p < .000), forgetting where they were or what they did (p < .000), engaging in unplanned sexual activity (p < .000), and getting hurt or injured (p < .017) in comparison to women in committed relationships.

Take away: This study found that men in a committed relationship were only less likely to report doing something that was later regretted, while women in committed relationships were less likely to experience all negative outcomes of drinking.

Pedersen, D. E., & Pithey, K. P. (2018). Romantic relationships, college student alcohol use, and negative consequences of drinking. The Social Science Journal.