Deconstructing the associations between executive functioning, problematic alcohol use and intimate partner aggression: A dyadic analysis

Abstract

Introduction and Aims Problematic drinking and executive functioning deficits are two known risk factors for intimate partner aggression (IPA). However, executive functioning is a multifaceted construct, and it is not clear whether deficits in specific components of executive functioning are differentially associated with IPA perpetration generally and within the context of problematic alcohol use. To address this question, the present study investigated the effects of problematic drinking and components of executive functioning on physical IPA perpetration within a dyadic framework. Design and Methods Participants were 582 heavy drinking couples (total N = 1,164) with a recent history of psychological and/or physical IPA recruited from two metropolitan cities in the United States. Multilevel models were used to examine effects within an Actor-Partner Interdependence framework. Results The highest levels of physical IPA were observed among Actors who reported everyday consequences of executive functioning deficits related to emotional dysregulation whose partners were problematic drinkers. However, the association between executive functioning deficits related to emotional dysregulation and IPA was stronger toward partners who were non-problematic drinkers relative to partners who were problematic drinkers drinkers. No such effect was found for executive functioning deficits related to behavioral regulation. Discussion and Conclusions Results provide insight into how problematic drinking and specific executive functioning deficits interact dyadically in relation to physical IPA perpetration.

Tailored integrated interventions for intimate partner violence and substance use are urgently needed

“… highlight the use of controlling behaviours and technology facilitated abuse in men receiving substance use treatment and the need to address this type of abuse in interventions. Other researchers in this special issue are starting to explore how problematic drinking and executive functioning deficits interact in relation to IPV perpetration , supporting the need for interventions that address adaptive emotion regulation skills. In a review of naturalistic studies, Murphy and Ting found that reductions in IPV perpetration were associated with successful completion of substance use treatment.…”

Alcohol, Self-Regulation and Partner Physical Aggression: Actor-Partner Effects Over a Three-Year Time Frame

“…Having a heavy drinking partner was associated with actor IPA regardless of the actor’s self-regulation. Similarly, Parrott et al ( 2017 ) fund that the relationship between actor emotional regulation and IPA was stronger when the partner was not a problem drinker than when the partner was a problem drinker. Again, partner problem drinking had the effect of predicting IPA but it also reduced the relationship between self-regulation and IPA.…”

Fatores associados ao uso do álcool entre homens autores de violência por parceiro íntimo no Ceará

“…Na cultura do patriarcado, o ciúme, sentimento expresso por meio de uma reação a uma ameaça percebida 29 , tem por significado a proteção/preservação do objeto de amor e, por isso, torna-se socialmente aceito 6,2,18 , apesar de poder estar associado a uma percepção distorcida de posse/propriedade do parceiro íntimo. Desse modo, o ciúme atua como uma forma de limitar a autonomia do parceiro, sendo uma fonte de insatisfação, conflitos, separações, agressão e violência 29,36 . Fato que se repete a cada novo relacionamento afetivo estabelecido, conforme observado neste estudo.…”

“…Acrescente-se que, quando há associação entre o déficit de regulação da emoção e a violência por parceiro íntimo, que depende da condição emocional do agressor e de como ele concebe o problema vivido 36 , estudos revelam que indivíduos com uso de álcool tendem a apresentar níveis de impulsividades mais elevados, e, quando expostos aos efeitos do álcool, têm este efeito potencializado 22,[36][37][38] . Assim, muitos problemas relacionados ao consumo excessivo de bebidas alcoólicas e ciúmes têm sido estudados como frequência em casos de violência contra parceiro íntimo 18,22,29,36 .…”