It has been hypothesized that both problematic drinking and communication problems can negatively affect the quality and selection of social relationships. One of the goals of some alcohol treatments is to improve patient social functioning by focusing on communication skills during the treatment process. A number of studies have focused on the association between relationship functioning and alcohol treatment outcomes. However, no studies were identified in which discrepant assessments, regarding relationship functioning across subject and partner, were used to "match" a patient to treatment. Equity Theory, an economic based theory, will be used to explain the merits, limitations and rationale for using relationship discrepancy scores to match patients to alcohol treatments. According to the Equity Theory equation, relationships consist of a series of ongoing exchanges receiving positive and/or negative consequences. Within the framework of Equity Theory, an ideal state occurs in dyadic relationships when there are equitable exchanges. Researchers in the alcohol field report that no couple based matching research exists and theoretically driven matching studies should be tested.
Learning Objectives: 1) understand the relationship between problematic drinking and interpersonal problems 2) recognize the merits and limitations of the Equity Theory 3) apply the Equity Theory to couple's social functioning discrepancy scores 4) understand the rationale for matching social functioning discrepancy score to treatment
Keywords: Alcohol Problems, Treatment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.