One question that has not been addressed in this literature concerns whether and how romantic relationship status in emerging adulthood fits into broader etiological models of alcohol use and alcohol use disorder (Sher, Grekin, & Williams, 2005). This is an important gap in our understanding of whether risk factors for alcohol use are also associated with romantic relationship status during this period, and whether romantic relationship status is part of a pathway of risk between antecedent alcohol use risk factors and subsequent alcohol outcomes. Jessor and Jessor's (1977) Problem-Behavior Theory (PBT) provides a useful conceptual backdrop for answering this question. PBT is a systems-based perspective that views one's proneness to deviant behavior as a cumulative process that has its roots in familial and socialization risk factors. It is hypothesized that that these antecedent-background factors predict subsequent psychosocial factors (i.e., personality and perceptions of the environment) that promote or discourage a constellation of deviant behaviors (e.g., conduct problems, underage or risky drinking, unprotected intercourse, etc.) that can undermine individuals' health and safety. Previous research informed by PBT found that psychosocial factors
