Romantic conflict, coping motives, and addictive behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and public health measures resulted in enormous disruption. Substantial evidence has found that this period was associated with worsened anxiety and depression symptoms, exacerbation of addictive behaviours and associated problems, and hostile romantic conflict behaviours amongst those more vulnerable to these challenges. Addictive behaviours and hostile romantic conflict are strongly associated; less research has examined conflict as a predictor of addictive behaviours. Coping motives provide a possible explanation for this link across various addictive behaviours. This mediational model has been established in one study on alcohol-related problems. However, this has not been tested in other addictive behaviours or with a measure of distress. Lastly, the pandemic may be a time of heightened partner influence. Through four studies, this dissertation sought to examine hostile romantic conflict as a predictor of addictive behaviours and associated problems via distress and coping motives respectively, largely using dyadic models to examine partner influence. In Study 1, N = 348 couples who used alcohol were recruited (Wave 1). Results showed support for the mediational model and partner influence. In Study 2, N = 206 partnered gamblers were recruited between pandemic waves. Results supported the serial mediation model predicting gambling problems. Study 3 examined cannabis and alcohol use during Wave 2 of the pandemic and used an emotional disorder symptoms measure in N = 493 couples. Study 3 found support for the serial mediational model, as well as partner effects for cannabis but not alcohol. Study 4 extended Study 3 by examining substance-related problems (SRP). The serial mediation model predicted a large amount of variance in SRP; more partner effects were detected than in Study 3 in the same sample. Several gender differences were found across studies. Trends suggest conflict may be riskier for addictive behaviours for women, but that men may be more at risk to respond to their partner’s conflict-associated distress with engagement in addictive behaviours. Overall, this dissertation supports the proposed serial mediation model. Additionally, couples appear to influence each other’s addictive behaviours partially via coping motives. Findings contribute to our understanding of the public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.