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Affiliation
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Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development and Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia. |
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Copyright
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(Copyright © 2019, Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc., Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey) |
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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the type of sexual assault (intoxicated vs. non-intoxicated) and post-assault avoidance on post-assault alcohol misuse among people who experienced a recent sexual assault.
METHOD: The sample included 72 adults aged 18-58 who completed a follow-up phone screen within 30 days of completing a sexual assault medical forensic examination. Participants reported demographics, prior sexual assault, if they were intoxicated from alcohol or other drugs during the sexual assault that preceded receipt of a sexual assault medical forensic examination, post-assault avoidance symptoms, and post-assault alcohol misuse.
RESULTS: Post-assault alcohol misuse was higher among participants with intoxicated (vs. non-intoxicated) sexual assault, prior sexual assault (vs. none), and who identified as White. There was a significant interaction between the type of sexual assault and avoidance symptoms on post-assault alcohol misuse. There was a significant association between avoidance symptoms and alcohol misuse (b = 0.82, p =.003) among participants who experienced a non-intoxicated sexual assault, but not among those who reported intoxication during the recent sexual assault (b = -0.33, p =.468).
CONCLUSIONS: Intoxicated sexual assault and post-assault avoidance may be influential factors contributing to post-assault alcohol misuse among people who are recently sexually assaulted. Interventions targeting post-sexual assault alcohol misuse should be tailored based on the type of recent assault and post-assault avoidance.
Language: en |