Hazardous Drinking and Family Functioning in National Guard Veterans and Spouses Postdeployment

Survey data were used to examine the rates of alcohol misuse among National Guard members and their relationship partners, congruence of drinking behaviors within couples, and the effects of alcohol misuse, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on relationship satisfaction, parenting stress, and household chaos. Results indicated that although there was no association with combat exposure and alcohol use, problem drinking was associated with poorer relationship satisfaction, and higher levels of parenting stress, depression, and PTSD.