NCJ Number
195580
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2002 Pages: 205-217
Editor(s)
Roland D. Maiuro Ph.D.
Date Published
April 2002
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article presents a study of the negative reinforcement use of alcohol among adult women who have a history of sexual assault.
Abstract
The authors studied the relationship between alcohol use and sexual assault. Data were collected from 318 female undergraduates aged 18 to 43 attending a Midwestern University. Study participants were administered four data collection tools, the Sexual Experience Survey (SES), the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, the Cahalan Drinking Habits Questionnaire (DHQ), and the Drug Use Functional Assessment Screening Tool. Only sexual assaults experienced after the age of 17 were measured. A path analytic model was used to test the hypothesis that women who experienced sexual assault were more likely to self-medicate with alcohol use, as compared to women who had no history of sexual assault. The authors found that negative reinforcement achieved through this sort of alcohol use contributed to the development of alcohol use disorders. It was suggested that the establishment of this relationship could be used to develop better treatment for alcohol use disorders. Recommendations for additional research on this topic were made. 2 tables, 57 references