Exploration and experimentation in romantic relationships are important components of social development in emerging adulthood (Shulman, Scharf, Livne, & Barr, 2013). Romantic experiences during this period of the lifespan are also associated with behavioral health outcomes, including alcohol use and misuse (Braithwaite, Delevi, & Fincham, 2010). Emerging adults in cohabiting relationships engage in less heavy drinking compared to singles (Fleming, White, & Catalano, 2010), and college students in committed relationships drink less often, are less likely to engage in heavy episodic drinking (Braithwaite et al., 2010), and are less likely to have alcohol problems (Whitton, Weitbrecht, Kuryluk, & Bruner, 2013) compared to singles. In a more recent report, first year college students who were single or in an exclusive relationship had lower alcohol use and fewer alcohol problems compared to those dating several people (Salvatore, Kendler, & Dick, 2014).
