Alcohol-Related Help-Seeking in Problem Drinking Women Sexual Assault Survivors

Abstract

In 2002–2003 correlates of alcohol-related help-seeking were studied in women sexual assault survivors who were current problem drinkers (N == 526) in a large metropolitan area. Volunteer participants completed several valid and reliable instruments (i.e., the TWEAK, GFM, and MAST), which assessed alcohol use and misuse and related help-seeking. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models. Results suggest that correlates of women survivors’ alcohol-related help-seeking vary depending on the specific source. Limitations and implications are noted and recommendations for future research are made. This study was funded by the National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

RÉSUMÉ

Corrélats de l’alcool sur les aider à la recherche ont été étudiés chez les femmes victimes d’agression sexuelle qui sont en cours buveurs (N == 526) dans une grande région métropolitaine en 2002–2003. Bénévoles participants plusieurs instruments valables et fiables, qui a évalué l’utilisation et l’abus d’alcool et les aider à la recherche (c’est-à-dire, le TWEAK, GFM, et MAST). Les données ont été analysées à l’aide de modèles de régression logistique. Les résultats suggèrent que les corrélats de femmes victimes liés à l’alcool aider la recherche varient en fonction de la source. Les limitations et les implications sont constatées et des recommandations pour de futures recherches sont effectuées. Cette étude a été financée par le National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

RESUMEN

Correlatos de ayuda relacionados con el alcohol fueron estudiados en la búsqueda de las mujeres sobrevivientes de asalto sexual que los bebedores problema actual (N == 526) en una gran área metropolitana en el período 2002–2003. Voluntarios de los participantes completaron varios instrumentos válidos y confiables, que evaluaron el uso del alcohol y el uso indebido y la búsqueda de ayuda (es decir, el TWEAK, GFM, y MACS). Los datos se analizaron mediante modelos de regresión logística. Los resultados sugieren que la correlación de las mujeres sobrevivientes de alcohol relacionados con la búsqueda de ayuda variará en función de la fuente específica. Limitaciones y consecuencias y se tomó nota de las recomendaciones para futuras investigaciones se hacen. Este estudio fue financiado por los Institutos Nacionales de Abuso de Alcohol y Alcoholismo.

Keywords :

• problem drinking
• help-seeking
• sexual assault
• women
• alcohol abuse

THE AUTHORS

Sarah E. Ullman, Ph.D., is a Professor of Criminology, Law, & Justice and Associate Department Head at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She received a Ph.D. in Social/Developmental Psychology from Brandeis University and completed postdoctoral training in Health Psychology at UCLA. Her research interests concern the impact of sexual assault and traumatic life events on women's health and substance abuse outcomes, social, cognitive, and behavioral factors associated with recovery from trauma, and situational and behavioral correlates of rape avoidance.

Cynthia J. Najdowski, M.A., is a doctoral student in social and personality psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her research focuses on understanding how childhood sexual abuse and rape victims cope with their experiences. She also studies perceptions of juvenile offenders. She has received several competitive grants and awards in recognition of her work.

Notes

¹  We also used bivariate correlational analyses to examine relations between alcohol-related help-seeking and several other demographics (sexual orientation, marital status, ethnicity, income, medical insurance history, employment status), trauma history (CSA history), assault characteristics (age at time of assault, perpetrator identity, victim substance use, perpetrator substance use, level of force involved, use of weapon, level of victim resistance, level of injury, assault severity, level of post-assault upset), coping strategies (venting, positive reframing, humor, acceptance, religion, behavioral self-blame), social support (number of confidants, frequency of contact with social network members), current symptoms (perceived control over recovery, depressive symptoms), and other assault outcomes (suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts, number of formal support sources told, number of informal support sources told). Although some of the relations were significant, they did not meet the strict criteria we set to control the number of analyses conducted. Specifically, to be included as a predictor in our analyses, we required independent variables to relate to at least three of the five alcohol-related help-seeking measures using α == .005. Results from these analyses and the full correlation matrix are available upon request.