title: Longitudinal Change in Women's Sexual Victimization Experiences as a Function of Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Victimization History: A Latent Transition Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Women's alcohol consumption and vulnerability to sexual victimization (SV) are linked, but findings regarding the nature and direction of the association are mixed. Some studies have found support for the self-medication hypothesis (i.e., victimized women drink more to alleviate SV-related distress); others have supported routine activity theory (i.e., drinking increases SV vulnerability). In this study, we aimed to clarify the interplay between women's prior SV, typical drinking, and SV experiences prospectively over one year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N= 530) completed a baseline survey and weekly follow-up surveys across Months 3, 6, 9, and 12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Latent class analysis (LCA) suggested that women could be classified as victimized or non-victimized at each assessment month; 28% of participants were classified as victimized at one or more assessment months. Latent transition analysis (LTA) revealed that childhood sexual abuse and adult SV history each predicted greater likelihood of being victimized during the year. Typical drinking during a given assessment month was associated with (1) greater likelihood of victimized status at that assessment month and (2) greater likelihood of having transitioned into (or remained in) the victimized status since the previous assessment month. Furthermore, victimized status at a given assessment month predicted a higher quantity of subsequent drinking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate a reciprocal relationship between typical drinking and SV, supporting both the self-medication hypothesis and routine activity theory, and suggesting that hazardous drinking levels may be one important target for both SV vulnerability reduction and interventions for women who have been sexually victimized.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Amanda E B
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.affiliation: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.affiliation: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Devon Alisa
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Abdallah
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stappenbeck
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Kelly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Washington.
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Cinnamon L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Danube
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zawacki
keywords: alcohol consumption; latent class analysis; latent transition analysis; sexual victimization