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 couples with an alcoholic husband, maritally conflicted couples, and normal control couples. Findings showed that alcoholic couples had significantly lower levels of marital satisfaction compared to happily married couples. Furthermore, alcoholic couples did not differ significantly from maritally distressed couples in marital satisfaction. Studies using continuous measures of alcohol consumption and alcohol problems have also found significant negative correlations between alcohol problems or heavy use and marital satisfaction (e.g., Leonard & Roberts, 1998, Leonard & Senchak, 1993; Zweben, 1986). That the marital relationship can be negatively affected by a partner's alcohol use has important implications for the quality of parent–child interactions (Belsky, 1984; Erel & Burman, 1995; Grych, 2002).
