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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Coping in male partners of female problem drinkers
Journal of Substance Use, Volume 13, Issue 3 June 2008 , pages 193 - 203



Despite a wealth of literature looking at how families cope when a member has a drinking problem, little is known about the experiences of male partners. This study sought to redress this balance by exploring coping behaviours in male partners of female problem drinkers.

Contrary to what was expected, male partners reported using engaged coping behaviours most frequently and withdrawal coping behaviours least frequently. Significant positive correlations were found between the males' coping behaviours, and both the length of the problem drinking and the extent to which they saw their partners' drinking as problematic.

The results gave little support to the idea that males withdraw from females with drinking problems, and the males reported to be engaged in both an active and controlling way in trying to cope with their partner's drinking. The results reinforce the need to include a female's significant others in the treatment of her alcohol problem.

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