Alcohol and the Risk of Physical and Sexual Assault Victimization*

Abstract

We examine the effect of alcohol consumption on an individual's risk of victimization for physical and sexual assault. Analyses of the National Violence Against Women Survey suggest that the frequency and amount of alcohol people consume has strong effects on their risk of victimization when drinking, but is not associated with their victimization while sober. This evidence suggests that drinking has a situational causal effect on victimization, and cannot be attributed to opportunity factors associated with drinking. This effect is particularly strong for men and young adults, who may be more likely to behave provocatively when under the influence. Victims of sexual assaults and men assaulted by their female partners are also particularly likely to be drinking.

Physically forced, alcohol-induced, and verbally coerced sexual victimization: Assessing risk factors among university women

“…Alcohol consumption was operationalized by summing the responses to three questions that captured the frequency, quantity, and variability of alcohol consumption as identified in prior literature (Felson & Burchfield, 2004;Leigh, 1990;Ullman, Karabatsos, & Koss, 1999). Specifically, respondents were asked "During the past six months, how often did you drink any alcoholic beverages, including beer, light beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor?"…”

The Impact of Alcohol On Different Types of Violent Incidents

“…We do not think the women are more likely to be responding to male violence: Previous research on this data set suggests that women's violence against their partners is no more likely to be precipitated by a violent attack than are men's (Felson & Cares, 2005; also see Archer, 2000). On the other hand, other research based on this data set shows that when women assault their partners, their partners are particularly likely to be drinking (Felson & Burchfield, 2004). We suspect that women's sober violence is often a response to nonviolent provocations by intoxicated male partners.…”

“…It is interesting to compare the results herein with those from the research on victim's drinking using this data set. That research shows that sexual assault victims are more likely to be drinking than are physical assault victims (Felson & Burchfield, 2004). Alcohol apparently plays a similar role in offending for physical and sexual assault but a greater role in sexual victimization.…”

Helping Students to Understand the Link Between Substance Use and Intimate Partner Violence

“…Felson and Burchfield (2004) pointed to intoxicated men having a greater risk of being assaulted secondary to provocative behavior; that is, they might be more verbally aggressive, thereby provoking another to use physical violence. In this situation, there is a decrease in impulse control in both partners because of substance use and both are provocative toward each other.…”