Cycle of sexual assault and women's alcohol misuse.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the complex relationship between sexual assault and alcohol misuse by female assault victims.


METHODS
Drawing on recent research and theoretical models from other social sciences, the author interjects a nursing perspective for this complex patient problem.


CONCLUSIONS
This review of theories and models, and the evidence that supports them, provides a way for nurses to conceptualize the relationship between sexual victimization and alcohol misuse as bidirectional or reciprocal.


CONCLUSIONS
The evidence and models discussed here suggest that when patients present with sexual assault or alcohol misuse, nurses should assess and address the possibility of both conditions being present.
University of Massachusetts Amherst, 01003, USA. kalmakis@nursing.umass.edu
Karen A
KA
Kalmakis
D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D053604:Forensic Nursing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015995:Prevalence; D011902:Rape / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*