Testing a Model of Binegativity, Drinking-to-Cope Motives, Alcohol Use, and Sexual Coercion Among Self-Identified Bisexual Women

abstract

In the present study, the authors tested a sequential mediation model whereby binegativity was associated with sexual coercion through drinking-to-cope motives and alcohol use. Data were examined from 224 self-identified bisexual women (M age = 22.79, SD = 3.44) who took part in an online survey. Participants reported binegativity, alcohol use, drinking-to-cope motivations, and sexual coercion experiences for the previous 30 days. A total of 48.0% of the sample (n = 108) experienced sexual coercion in the past 30 days. Sequential mediation indicated more experiences of binegativity were associated with greater drinking-to-cope motives, which in turn, related to greater alcohol frequency and greater likelihood of sexual coercion. Alcohol quantity was not a significant mediator. Results suggest the importance of studying the impact of binegativity on bisexual women, as well as developing prevention programs that consider how this form of discrimination may contribute to drinking-to-cope motives, more frequent alcohol use, and increased risk for sexual coercion.

Keywords:

• binegativity
• drinking-to-cope motives
• alcohol use
• sexual coercion
• bisexual women

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michelle L. Kelley

Michelle L. Kelley, PhD is professor and chair in the Department of Psychology, and Eminent Scholar, at Old Dominion University and affiliate in the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests are in the etiology and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse particularly among parents and women.

Sarah J. Ehlke

Sarah Ehlke, MA is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology at Old Dominion University. She completed a master's degree in criminology at the University of South Florida, and a second master's degree in psychology at University of North Carolina Wilmington. Her research interests include alcohol use and sexual assault among young adult women, with a focus on bisexual women.

Abby L. Braitman

Abby L. Braitman, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Old Dominion University and affiliate in the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology. Her research focuses on health behaviors among emerging adults, particularly techniques to strengthen and extend interventions directed at harm reduction, and socio-cognitive influences of health. She is also interested in the application of quantitative methods and approaches for risky health behaviors.

Amy L. Stamates

Amy Stamatesy, MS is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Psychology at Old Dominion University. Her research interests include examining impulsivity as a predictor and consequence of drinking and identifying high-risk patterns of use among emerging adults.