Masculine and feminine orientations on emotions and alcohol use in response to romantic conflict

Abstract

This research examines associations of gender role (i.e., masculine and feminine) orientations with drinking alcohol shortly after a recent significant romantic relationship conflict, and whether experiencing specific emotions in response to the conflict has indirect effects on gender role orientation effects on drinking. Participants included 410 American and Canadian adults (59% female) in committed romantic relationships who consumed alcohol regularly (i.e., 12+ drinks/past year). Participants completed an online survey and reported their biological sex, gender identity, gender role orientation, the degree to which they experienced a variety of negative (e.g., ashamed, angry) and positive emotions (e.g., validated, connected) in response to a recent significant romantic relationship conflict, and the amount of alcohol consumed following the conflict. Zero-inflated negative binomial models indicated masculine orientation was related to greater odds of drinking post-conflict. Masculine orientation was associated with experiencing more negative affect and emotions such as feeling sad, disgusted, and powerless. Feminine orientation was associated with positive affect and emotions such as understood, connected, and happy. Experiencing negative emotions was linked with greater odds of drinking and drinking more post-conflict. Analyses of indirect effects indicated that overall negative affect and all individual negative emotions explained links of masculine orientation with drinking whereas feminine orientation was indirectly associated with drinking via both overall negative and positive affect as well as several self-conscious, anxious, and positive emotions. Our study clarifies the emotions that should be targeted in individuals with specific gender role orientations to prevent excessive drinking and/or relapse following romantic conflict.