@article{ref1,
title="Social support predicts reductions in PTSD symptoms when substances are not used to cope: a longitudinal study of sexual assault survivors",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2017",
author="Dworkin, Emily R. and Ojalehto, Heidi and Bedard-Gilligan, Michele A. and Cadigan, Jennifer M. and Kaysen, Debra",
volume="229",
number="",
pages="135-140",
abstract="BACKGROUND: After sexual assault, many college women develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and those who engage in substance use coping are at heightened risk for this outcome. Positively-perceived social support has been identified as an important protective factor against the development of PTSD, but received social support could involve problematic behaviors-like the encouragement of coping through use of alcohol and/or drugs-that could worsen symptoms. <br><br>METHODS: In the current study, 147 undergraduate women with a lifetime history of sexual assault completed two waves of self-report measures assessing their symptoms. We test main and interaction effects for social support and substance use coping at baseline on PTSD symptoms one month later. <br><br>RESULTS: Results suggest that social support is longitudinally associated with decreases in PTSD. Although substance use coping did not evidence a direct association with PTSD, the relationship between social support and PTSD was significantly weaker as substance use coping increased. Only support from friends (but not family members or a &quot;special person&quot;) was associated with later PTSD, and this relationship was moderated by substance use coping. LIMITATIONS: Substance use coping was assessed via a brief measure, and peer encouragement of coping by using alcohol and/or drugs was not directly assessed. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should consider ways to increase access to social support from friends in patients with PTSD and evaluate ways that substance use coping may interfere with social support's benefits.<br><br>Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/j.jad.2017.12.042",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.12.042"
}