Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders as Predictors of Child to Adult Sexual Revictimization in a Sample of Community Women

• NCJ Number: 195896
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2002 Pages: 319-340
• Author(s): Terri L. Messman-Moore; Patricia J. Long
• Editor(s): Roland D. Maiuro Ph.D.
• Date Published: June 2002
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the role of alcohol and other substance use disorders in the occurrence of child to adult sexual revictimization.

Abstract

This study was designed to provide a methodologically sound and well-controlled examination of alcohol and substance related diagnoses as factors in child to adult sexual revictimization. It was hypothesized that child sexual abuse survivors (CSAS) would be at increased risk for rape and coerced intercourse and they would be more likely to be diagnosed with both alcohol-related diagnoses and substance-related diagnoses compared to nonvictims. It was also felt that both CSA and alcohol and substance related diagnosis would predict both rape and coerced intercourse and that both factors together would increase the risk. Three-hundred women participated in the study and ranged in age from 18 to 55 years. Structured interviews with the women included life experiences interview, structured clinical interview for DSM-IV, nonpatient version, and procedure for use of structured interviews. Study results found that the rates of adult sexual victimization were higher for CSA survivors as compared to nonvictims, for both rape and coerced sexual intercourse. Adult rape survivors and women reporting coerced intercourse by strangers and acquaintances were more likely to experience both alcohol and substance use disorders compared to women without such assaults. The findings supported the idea that revictimization in different forms and by different perpetrators involved different risk factors. There was a relative importance of each factor which varied depending on perpetrator identity and the type of sexual experience considered. Results provide support for the thought that both the presence of CSA and the presence of a substance use disorder increase a woman’s risk for adult rape and coerced intercourse. However, the findings do not seem to support the idea that alcohol and substance related diagnoses act as mediators between CSA and adult rape or coerced intercourse. Study limitations are presented and discussed. Tables and references