Why might paternal alcohol use be associated with lower parental warmth and sensitivity? One reason could be because it negatively affects the relationship between mothers and fathers. According to Jacob and Leonard (1994), the marital relationship is one pathway linking paternal alcoholism to negative parenting behaviors. Partner alcoholism is believed to result in increases in marital conflict and overall marital dissatisfaction and research provides support for this. Studies have shown that men who are frequently drunk are more likely to be verbally and physically violent towards their partners (Coleman & Straus, 1986; Hutchinson, 1999; Kantor Kaufman & Straus, 1989). In addition, clinical outcome research has shown that treatment for alcohol dependence is associated with decreases in intimate partner violence (O'Farrell & Choquette, 1991; Stuart, Ramsey, Moore, Kahler, & Farrell, 2003). Other studies examining marital satisfaction among alcoholics and their partners have shown that partner alcoholism is associated with decreased marital satisfaction for both husbands and wives (e.g., Jacob & Leonard, 1992; Leonard & Jacob, 1997; McLeod, 1993; O'Farrell & Birchler, 1987; Tubman, 1991). For example, O'Farrell and Birchler (1987) compared
