Abstract
To investigate sex differences in associations between sexual violence victimization (SVV), sexual violence perpetration (SVP), and binge drinking and/or alcohol problems among high school students. While SVV has been linked to problem alcohol use among young women, little research has addressed the unique associations of SVV and SVP on alcohol use/problems within both sexes. A cross-sectional analysis of 16,992 high school students’ self-reports of past-year SVP and SVV was used where SVV/SVP was defined by three tactics (sexual coercion, drug/alcohol-facilitated or incapacitated sex, and physically forced sex). Alcohol measures included past-month binge drinking and past-year alcohol problems. Rates of SVV were twice as high in females (21.2% vs. 13.3%), and SVP rates were twice as high in males (10.9% vs. 5.2%). SVV and SVP were each associated with an increased rate of current binge drinking and problem alcohol use for both sexes, across increasing numbers of SV tactics and within each of three tactics. After controlling for demographic and other risk factors including SVP, drug/alcohol-facilitated or incapacitated SVV was more strongly linked to binge drinking and alcohol problems among females. SVP was more strongly linked to binge drinking and alcohol problems among males (adjusting for SVV and other covariates). No sex differences emerged in associations between coerced or physically forced SVV/SVP and alcohol-related outcomes. Both SVV and SVP are associated with an increased likelihood of binge drinking and alcohol problems for males and females. Important sex differences emerged when SV tactics are considered.
Highlights
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines sexual violence (SV) as “a sexual act that is committed or attempted by another person without freely given consent of the victim or against someone who is unable to consent or refuse” (Basile et al 2014)
Consistent with prior research, rates of any sexual violence perpetration (SVP) among males (10.8%) were twice that of females (5.2%), while rates of any sexual violence victimization (SVV) were higher among females (21.2%) than males (13.3%)
We examined demographic or violence risk factors that were associated with SVV and/or SVP
Summary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines sexual violence (SV) as “a sexual act that is committed or attempted by another person without freely given consent of the victim or against someone who is unable to consent or refuse” (Basile et al 2014). Tactics included within the definition are 1) sexual coercion (i.e., pressure for sex in a nonphysical way), 2) physically forced sex, and 3) alcohol/drugfacilitated (i.e., involving perpetrator-administered drugs, alcohol, or other intoxicants that result in loss of consciousness or impaired ability to control behavior) or incapacitated (i.e., involving impairment that occurs when the victim has voluntarily used alcohol or other drugs) sex (Black et al 2011). Lifetime and current rates of sexual violence victimization (SVV) are higher among women than men (Black et al 2011). J Fam Viol (2020) 35:633–646 violence perpetration (SVP) has more recently been enumerated in population-based samples where rates are two to three times higher among men than women (Krahé et al 2015). Alcohol use frequently co-occurs with SVV and SVP for both women and men. Approximately half of all SV incidents involve alcohol consumption by the victim, perpetrator, or both (Abbey 2011; Abbey et al 2004b; Testa 2002)
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