Testing posttraumatic stress as a mediator of physical, sexual, and psychological intimate partner violence and substance problems among women.
This study examined whether posttraumatic stress specifically resulting from intimate partner violence (IPV-related posttraumatic stress) mediated relationships between types of IPV and drug and alcohol problems among 212 women currently experiencing IPV. Six-month prevalence was high for drug use (48%) and alcohol use (59%). Structural equation modeling revealed that the frequency of physical, sexual, and psychological IPV were significantly and positively related to greater IPV-related posttraumatic stress, and IPV-related posttraumatic stress was significantly and positively related to drug problems. Further, IPV-related posttraumatic stress mediated the relationships between physical IPV and drug problems and psychological IPV and drug problems. Findings suggest that prevention and intervention efforts targeting posttraumatic stress among IPV-exposed women may reduce drug problems in this population.
Sullivan
Tami P
TP
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. tami.sullivan@yale.edu
Cavanaugh
Courtenay E
CE
Buckner
Julia D
JD
Edmondson
Donald
D
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015984:Causality; D003068:Coercion; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*
D013287:Illicit Drugs