TY - JOUR PY - 2022// TI - Experiencing sexual assault and/or stalking-related behavior is associated with binge drinking and substance use consequences in deployed U.S. Servicewomen JO - Women's health issues A1 - Cucciare, Michael A. A1 - Mengeling, Michelle A. A1 - Han, Xiaotong A1 - Kennedy, Kristina A1 - Torner, James A1 - Sadler, Anne G. SP - ePub EP - ePub VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - BACKGROUND: Being deployed is a risk factor for poor postdeployment mental health outcomes in U.S. servicewomen, including harmful drinking. However, to our knowledge, no studies have examined deployment-related sexual assault and exposure to stalking-related behavior in relation to binge drinking and substance use consequences in this population.

METHODS: A community sample of post-9/11 servicewomen from the Midwest, including both veterans and those actively serving (N = 991), completed computer-assisted telephone interviews after deployment. Logistic regression models examined associations between deployment-related sexual assault (attempted or completed) and stalking-related behavior (e.g., being left unwanted things, having property vandalized), and the likelihood of reporting binge drinking and substance use consequences after controlling for covariates.

RESULTS: U.S. servicewomen experiencing deployment-related sexual assault and/or stalking-related behavior were more likely to report binge drinking in the past 4 weeks and at least one negative consequence of substance use in the past year. Also, 21.56% of the sample reported experiencing any deployment-related sexual assault and/or stalking-related behavior, 17.34% reported any stalking-related behavior and no sexual assault, 2.42% reported both sexual assault and stalking-related behavior, and 1.80% reported sexual assault and no stalking-related behavior. The most commonly endorsed behaviors were being followed or spied on (9.09%), receiving unsolicited correspondence (8.34%-8.74%), and having someone show up at places you were (6.90%).

CONCLUSIONS: U.S. servicewomen experiencing sexual assault and/or stalking-related behavior during deployment may be at higher risk for binge drinking and experiencing negative consequence of substance use when compared with their peers not reporting these stressors.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1049-3867 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2021.12.002 ID - ref1 ER -