Sexual revictimization, PTSD, and problem drinking in sexual assault survivors

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and problem drinking are common and often co-occurring sequelae experienced by women survivors of adult sexual assault, yet revictimization may mediate risk of symptoms over time. Structural equation modeling was used to examine data from a 3-wave panel design with a large (N = 1,012), ethnically diverse sample of women assault survivors to examine whether repeated sexual victimization related to greater PTSD and problem drinking. Structural equation modeling revealed that child sexual abuse was associated with greater symptoms of PTSD and problem drinking and intervening sexual victimization was associated with greater symptoms of PTSD and problem drinking at both 1 and 2 year follow-ups. We found no evidence, however, that PTSD directly influenced problem drinking over the long term or vice versa, although they were correlated at each timepoint. Revictimization during the study predicted survivors’ prospective PTSD and problem drinking symptoms. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Sexual Orientation, Race, and Trauma as Predictors of Sexual Assault Recovery

“…We found that women who had been revictimized during the 3-year study reported greater problems than those who had not. This effect remained when CSA history was controlled for, which also contributed to greater symptoms, consistent with previous literature on the topic (Ullman et al, 2005; Ullman et al, 2009). These results suggest that multiple sexual victimizations in adulthood therefore have additive effects in terms of survivor psychological outcomes.…”

Intimate Partner Violence and Drinking among Victims of Adult Sexual Assault

“…This suggests that other factors than social reactions were more important predictors of drinking. Similar to previous adult sexual assault studies, maladaptive coping was related to greater alcohol consumption and problem drinking (Ullman et al, 2005). A possible explanation for this result is that maladaptive coping includes substance use coping.…”

“…Avoidance coping strategies are a common response to stressful life events, such as rape (Littleton, Horsley, John, & Nelson 2007). Women with histories of sexual victimization and other traumas (e.g., child abuse, IPV) may be more likely to engage in various forms of avoidance or maladaptive coping such as drinking to cope (Bissonnette et al, 1997; Ullman, Filipas, Townsend & Starzynski, 2005). Drinking to cope with distress is related to greater alcohol consumption and drinking problems (Holahan, Moos, Holahan, Cronkite, & Randall, 2001; Park & Levenson, 2002).…”

Sexual Assault Severity and Depressive Symptoms as Longitudinal Predictors of the Quality of Women's Sexual Experiences

“…Further, this study excluded women who reported behaviors consistent with problem drinking, and these findings may not generalize to light drinkers, abstainers, or women meeting criteria for alcohol use disorder. Sexual assault is associated with problem drinking (Griffin, Wardell, & Read, 2013; Ullman, 2016). Because problem drinkers were excluded, we are cautious in the applicability of these results to all survivors of sexual assault.…”