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Substance Use and PTSD Symptoms Impact the Likelihood of Rape and Revictimization in College Women

Miami University, messmat{at}muohio.edu

Rose Marie Ward

Miami University

Amy L. Brown

University at Buffalo

The present study utilized a mixed retrospective and prospective design with an 8-month follow-up period to test a model of revictimization that included multiple childhood (i.e., child sexual, physical, and emotional abuse) and situational variables (i.e., substance use, sexual behavior) for predicting rape among 276 college women. It was of particular interest to determine whether traumatic responses (e.g., posttraumatic symptomatology or risky behavior) increased vulnerability for revictimization. During the 8-month follow-up period, 9% of participants were raped; 88% of assaults involved substance use by the victim. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology predicted rape, substance use, and sexual behavior. Substance use, but not sexual behavior, mediated the relation between PTSD symptomatology and rape during the follow-up period. Sexual behavior indirectly impacted risk for rape via substance use. Results suggest that college women with PTSD symptomatology may be at greater risk for rape if they use substances to reduce distress.

Key Words: revictimization • rape • posttraumatic stress disorder • substance use • college women

This version was published on March 1, 2009

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 24, No. 3, 499-521 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0886260508317199


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