Gender Differences in Correlates of Recent Physical Assault Among Untreated Rural and Urban At-Risk Drinkers: Role of Depression

• NCJ Number: 213277
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2006 Pages: 67-80
• Author(s): Stephen T. Chermack Ph.D.; Brenda M. Booth Ph.D.; Geoffrey M. Curran Ph.D.
• Date Published: February 2006
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined gender differences in risk markers for physical assault victimization among male and female at-risk drinkers recruited from both urban and rural settings.

Abstract

The findings revealed that both alcohol dependence and depression were risk markers for physical assault victimization among both men and women. Yet in women, the presence of alcohol dependence, depression, or both were all associated with physical assault victimization whereas in men, depression by itself was not associated with greater risk of physical assault victimization. Instead, alcohol appeared to be the key correlate for physical assault victimization in men, particularly when combined with depression. Women had higher overall rates of physical assault victimization and lifetime depression and were more likely to have both alcohol dependence and depression. Yet women were less likely to have alcohol dependence alone. The findings suggest the importance of targeting both alcohol disorders and depression within screening and intervention strategies. Brief telephone screening interviews were conducted via stratified random sampling of over 12,000 households in 6 Southern States to identify at-risk drinkers over the age of 18 years. The final sample of 468 men and 229 women also responded to a follow up interview 6-months later to assess past 6 month physical assault victimization. Participants provided data about demographic information, lifetime alcohol dependence, lifetime DSM-III-R depression, drug use, and past 6 months physical assault perpetration and victimization. Data analysis techniques involved bivariate and logistic regression models. Future studies should attempt to replicate these findings using data other than self-report data, which may be problematic when dealing with sensitive issues such as alcohol dependence and physical assault victimization. Tables, figure, references