COPING WITH A PARTNER WHO DRINKS TOO MUCH - DOES ANYTHING WORK

This paper reports on a multiple regression study in which the efficac y of positive and negative coping responses adopted by the partners of ''heavy drinkers'' were compared under conditions of drinker intoxica tion and sobriety. Results indicated that only one combination of resp onse type and drinker state was associated with higher levels of partn er well-being: positive responses when the drinker is sober. Moreover, even this coping pattern accounted for relatively little variance in partner well-being scores. It is concluded that programs which aim to improve the quality of partner's lives should not generalize about des irable coping behaviors but should take account of situational and ind ividual difference variables.