Alcohol Use in Wife Abusers and Their Spouses.

Author(s)

Vincent B. Van Hasselt, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Randall L. Morrison, Medical College of Pennsylvania
Alan S. Bellack, Medical College of Pennsylvania at EPPI

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1985

Publication Title

Addictive Behaviors

Volume

10

Issue/Number

2

First Page

127

ISSN

0306-4603

Last Page

135

Abstract/Excerpt

The present study provided an assessment of alcohol use in couples characterized by wife abuse. The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, Quantity-Frequency Index, Impairment Index, and a questionnaire tapping frequency and magnitude of violent episodes were administered to couples who were: (a) physically abusive, (b) martially discordant but nonviolent, and (c) satisfactorily married. Results indicated significantly higher scores on the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test in physically abusive males based on their self-reports as well as wives' reports of husbands' drinking behavior. No significant differences were found between groups of wives on alcohol measures. In addition, correlational analyses revealed a number of significant relationships between husbands' self-reported drinking and wives' responses concerning their spouses' alcohol use. Findings are discussed in terms of the need for more extensive assessment of physically abusive males, and the utility of examining the interactive influences of alcohol and other factors on marital violence.

DOI

10.1016/0306-4603(85)90018-8

NSUWorks Citation

Van Hasselt, V. B., Morrison, R. L., Bellack, A. S. (1985). Alcohol Use in Wife Abusers and Their Spouses.. Addictive Behaviors, 10(2), 127-135.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/93