Sexual Victimization and Sex-Related Drinking Motives: How Protective is Emotion Regulation?

Abstract

One in five college women experience sexual victimization (SV), and SV severity is associated with subsequent psychological distress, including sex-related distress. SV severity may also be associated with drinking motives to cope with sex-related distress and to enhance sex (sex-related drinking motives [SRDMs]), particularly if individuals suffer from emotion regulation (ER) difficulties. College women (N = 151) completed a survey assessment of ER, SV history, childhood sexual abuse (CSA), and SRDMs. Twelve regression models assessed six facets of ER as moderators between SV severity and SRDMs. Among women with no or low levels of prior SV severity, women with greater access to ER strategies were less likely to endorse drinking to cope SRDMs. At higher levels of SV severity, women at all levels of access to ER strategies were equally likely to endorse drinking to cope SRDMs, suggesting that access to ER strategies did not mitigate motivations to drink to cope with sex-related distress for these women. Women with severe SV histories may benefit from interventions that build on existing ER strengths or address other factors. However, greater access to ER strategies may serve as a protective factor against SRDMs when SV severity is low.

Notes

¹ Item to total score correlations were conducted for both the SRDM subscales. Correlations for drinking to cope with sex-related distress are as follows: “…to feel less depressed about sexual activity”, r = .90; “…to forget your worries about sexual activity”, r = .88; “…to help you forget your problems related to sexual activity”, r = .88; “…to feel less upset about sexual activity”, r = .87. Correlations for drinking to enhance sex are as follows: “…to make sexual activity more exciting”, r = .92; “…to make sexual activity more fun”, r = .93; “…to make you more relaxed during sexual activity”, r = .83; “…so that you will enjoy sexual activity more”, r = .91.

² The models were also examined using the DERS total score. No interactions were significant between the DERS total score and SV severity on the two sex-related drinking motives. In the model examining drinking to cope with sex-related distress, the DERS total score, SV severity, and CSA were all significantly, positively, associated with the outcome. In the model examining drinking to enhance sex, only the DERS total score was significantly, positively, associated with the outcome.

Additional information

Funding

Data collection and manuscript preparation were supported by grants from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2R01AA016281, with PIs Kelly Cue Davis, PhD, and William H. George, PhD; K08AA021745, with PI Cynthia Stappenbeck, PhD; and T32AA07455, with PI Mary Larimer, PhD).