07-05-2025
5 traits in romantic partners that can increase your risk of binge drinking
The "surprising" study that threw up some "unexpected" results may be eye-opening to those in relationships
We all look for different things in romantic partners, maybe for you it's blue eyes, dark hair, or a good job. Many Scots will be looking for someone to better them, such as a partner that will support their career or get behind their fitness goals.
Sadly, couples can also encourage bad habits and have a negative effect on each other. A new study has even revealed how romantic partners can influence a person's genetic predisposition to unhealthy alcohol use.
Virginia Commonwealth University and Rutgers University researchers found that the substance use habits, personality traits and mental health of long-term partners can amplify or lessen a person's likelihood to binge drink.
The study found that people whose spouses also drank regularly or displayed four other traits were at a higher risk of alcohol misuse.
In terms of genetic risk, those whose partners smoked regularly, were less less conscientious, more extroverted, and highly neurotic and/or psychologically distressed were more likely to binge drink.
And while those whose other half drank regularly were also at higher risk of alcohol problems, this was less down to a genetic influence than previously thought.
"We didn't expect to see this result," Mallory Stephenson, a postdoctoral fellow at the VCU School of Medicine, said.
"However, we think this could mean that the drinking behaviour of romantic partners could have a larger effect on a person's environmental influences rather than their genetic influences."
Incredibly, a person's genes account for approximately 50 per cent of their risk for alcohol use disorder and other forms of risky drinking. But the influence of these genetic factors can change depending on a person's environment.
"For example, if a person has a high genetic risk for alcohol use disorder and experiences a traumatic event, such as the death of a close relative or exposure to a natural disaster, their biology could play more of a role in whether or not they develop an alcohol problem in response to that stressor," Stephenson said.
"However, if that person isn't experiencing anything stressful in their life, their genetic risk may not have as much influence on their drinking behaviour."
Previous research revealed that people with a genetic predisposition to risky alcohol behaviour are less likely to drink frequently, get drunk often or depend on alcohol if they are in a romantic relationship.
In this new study, researchers tried to better understand whether any particular characteristics in a romantic partner can impact a person's genetic risk for drinking. To answer this question, researchers looked at Finnish twins in their 30s who were in long-term relationships and had a history of alcohol use.
The researchers surveyed 1,620 twins and their romantic partners on their drinking and smoking habits, as well as their personality traits and mental health.
Researchers believe assessing twins gives the best indication of wider societal behaviours as fraternal twins share 50 per cent of their genetic makeup while identical twins share 100 per cent of their genetic makeup.
In line with previous studies, researchers found that someone in early midlife was more likely to drink alcohol and binge drink if their romantic partner also frequently drank alcohol or smoked cigarettes. Behaviours like a lack of conscientiousness, being more extroverted, or highly neurotic were also found to be risk factors.
Stephenson said the research "sheds new light on the complicated and unforeseen ways that spouses and long-term partners can shape our health and well-being".
The research also underscores the important but complex ways in which romantic partners affect a person's health. Researchers say the findings, published in Clinical Psychological Science, could also inform strategies for couples therapy and couple-based alcohol interventions.
"Even if you have a good relationship with your partner, this research shows that their substance use, personality traits and mental health can still have an impact on you," Stephenson concluded.
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