TY - JOUR PY - 2019// TI - The association between type of sexual assault and post-assault alcohol misuse is moderated by avoidance among recipients of a sexual assault medical forensic examination JO - Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs A1 - Hahn, Christine K. A1 - Jaffe, Anna E. A1 - Stanton, Kimberley A1 - Gilmore, Amanda K. SP - 507 EP - 514 VL - 80 IS - 5 N2 - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the type of sexual assault (intoxicated vs. non-intoxicated) and post-assault avoidance on post-assault alcohol misuse among people who experienced a recent sexual assault.

METHOD: The sample included 72 adults aged 18-58 who completed a follow-up phone screen within 30 days of completing a sexual assault medical forensic examination. Participants reported demographics, prior sexual assault, if they were intoxicated from alcohol or other drugs during the sexual assault that preceded receipt of a sexual assault medical forensic examination, post-assault avoidance symptoms, and post-assault alcohol misuse.

RESULTS: Post-assault alcohol misuse was higher among participants with intoxicated (vs. non-intoxicated) sexual assault, prior sexual assault (vs. none), and who identified as White. There was a significant interaction between the type of sexual assault and avoidance symptoms on post-assault alcohol misuse. There was a significant association between avoidance symptoms and alcohol misuse (b = 0.82, p =.003) among participants who experienced a non-intoxicated sexual assault, but not among those who reported intoxication during the recent sexual assault (b = -0.33, p =.468).

CONCLUSIONS: Intoxicated sexual assault and post-assault avoidance may be influential factors contributing to post-assault alcohol misuse among people who are recently sexually assaulted. Interventions targeting post-sexual assault alcohol misuse should be tailored based on the type of recent assault and post-assault avoidance.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1937-1888 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -