This research paper aims at establishing why heavy drinkers are more likely to think that their relationships are not happy as much as people who are light drinkers. This research will be evaluated on the basis on the role that income plays in contributing to the heavy drinking which may lead to unhappy marriages. The research will also evaluate who among men and women are more affected with heavy drinking which leads to unhappy marriages and relationships.
Having reviewed recent research conducted on the role alcohol plays in relationships, I established that alcohol has been a major influence in many divorces being filled. This is experienced in couples who may not be having the same drinking habits. It is also evident through research, that couples who have incompatible drinking habits where one of the couples is a heavy drinker; there is a higher chance of divorce. This is because they may fail to have the same views regarding certain issues. According to Logan (2009), it is established that couples who have similar drinking habits are less likely to experience a divorce unlike instances where one couple is a heavy drinker. It is also made clear that couples who are both heavy drinkers are more likely to end their relationships regardless of their situation.
In instances where a man in the relation was the heavy drinker there were fewer cases of divorce unlike instances where the women were the heavy drinkers. This is because women are known to have a high tolerance level as compared to men (Logan, 2009). The percentage of divorce is higher in situations where both couples are heavy drinkers; this is attributed to the fact that they may find their relationships unhappy. The divorce rates among couples who are both lighter drinkers are at a minimal since they are able to understand each other and resolve their internal conflicts. Research, however, try to indicate that relationships may not be solely doomed because one of the partners is a heavy drinker.
Through this considerable factor, it is evident that there are other factors that contribute to heavy drinking which may lead to unhappy marriages. In relationships where there are the couples may be experiencing financial difficulties, there is a higher chance that the male partner is likely to take up heavy drinking. This is because they may feel depressed and have failed their responsibilities they, therefore, partake heavy drinking. The heavy drinking in this instance is due to depression, this leads to unhappy marriages since one partner is depressed and may fail to fulfill other obligations. Failure to take up responsibility due to heavy drinking may result to conflict since the other partner may feel neglected. In this particular scenario, it has been established that males are likely to take up heavy drinking due to financial difficulties compared to women (Logan, 2009).
According to Kilbourne (2011), despite most couples trying to cope with their partners drinking habits, they tend to get annoyed and tired at some point. This is because most heavy drinkers tend to get rowdy at some point as they partake in activities that the other partner may not find appealing. This is regardless of constant efforts made to try and tolerate this behavior. Research conducted among women state that, in spite of their partners not being violent, they tend to involve themselves in behaviors which they may not find good. This leads to fights which left unsolved may result to issues in the marriage and may lead to divorce if they are failed to be addressed (Ries, 2009). Heavy drinking as experienced in this scenario is not a day to day experienced but a phenomenon that occurs when one partner over drinks. Research state that males are likely to experience heavy drinking that may result to unhappy marriages.
Despite research addressing the drinking problems and the impact they have on marriages, there are limitations. This is because previous research fails to state other factors that may be affecting marriages due to heavy drinking. Limitations include the long-term effects that unhappy marriages may pose on the society and children (Strong, & Cohen, 2013). This is because it is evident that there will be a hostile environment at home that may not be favorable for child development. Research should also consider these factors in relation to effects that may arise due to heavy drinking. The previous research fails to address the long-term effects that may arise out of heavy drinking (NIH, 2003). Children who are associated with bad behavior and anti-social activity are more likely to have been brought up in unhappy homes. It would, therefore, be appropriate if research addressed these factors in their statistics.
Another limitation is the failure to address the impact marriages that may experience heavy drinking has on the society. It is clear that despite ruining marriages, heavy drinking has negative impact on the society (Helpguide.Org, 2014). This is attributed to the bad behavior that alcoholics may portray in the society. This is in relation to the conduct that the couples or the partner who is a heavy drinker may exhibit in public. These couples may find themselves involved in a conflict that may result to an exchange of rude words in public. Such behaviors are not socially acceptable since they go against the society’s code of ethics.
Research should be conducted to try and examine the gaps that have been left out by other researchers. This may include looking into the impact unhappy marriages may have on the society, children and work settings. It is evident that heavy drinking may lead to the neglecting work (Grant, & Potenza, 2010). This is because excessive consumption of alcohol may impair judgment resulting to poor work. This is because the affected individuals are not able to concentrate t work due to fatigue or personal issues that may arise from the heavy drinking. Stress may be because of unhappy marriages as stated in this report. This is because the persons may have a lot of thoughts regarding the situation at home and fail to concentrate at work.
Heavy drinking also results to unproductively in the society where couples spend too much time trying to resolve their differences. This result to ineffectiveness in work settings where individuals involved in heavy drinking may lose their jobs. In essence, research should concentrate on the long-term effects of heavy drinking on relations and the effects they may have on the society and children apart from the marriages. This will help in evaluating the changes that need be done to help incorrect these issues (Barlow, 2014). It is also expected that unhappy marriages may result to children having poor performance in their classes. This is because they are bond to lose concentration in class since they are worried and stressed about the situation at home. This is evident from the essence that most children who exhibit poor performance in class are due to the challenges that they may be encountering at home (Kippen, 2010). Total evaluation should be conducted to help fill the gaps that recent research may be failing to address. This is from the essence that previous research fails to go into details to explain the effects that may arise out of unhappy marriages which are experienced because of excessive consumption of alcohol.
This paper summarizes prior research and helps evaluate the role heavy drinking plays in ruining marriages. In conclusion, it is evident that marriages where one partner is a heavy drinker are likely to unhappy. This is due to the stated factors that indicate there may be constant arguments and issues which left unresolved may lead to divorce. It is also made clear in research that the income level also influence alcohol intake. This is because, one couple my resolve to heavy drinking due to the financial difficulties that they may be experiencing.
References
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Helpguide.Org. (2014). Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse. Retrieved on 16th October 2014, from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/alcoholism-and-alcohol-abuse.htm
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Kilbourne, J. (2011). Deadly persuasions: 7 myths alcohol advertisers want you to believe. Retrieved on 16th October 2014, from http://www.medialit.org/reading-room/deadly-persuasion-7-myths-alcohol-advertisers-want-you-believe
Kippen, R. (2010). What’s love got to do with it? Homogamy and dynamic approaches to marital instability. Retrieved on 16th October 2014, from http://www.academia.edu/215258/Whats_love_got_to_do_with_it_Homogamy_and_dyadic_approaches_to_marital_instability
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National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH). (2003). Alcohol problems in intimate relationships: identification and intervention. Retrieved on 16th October 2014, from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/niaaa-guide/
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