Social anxiety and alcohol-related sexual victimization: A longitudinal pilot study of college women.
We sought to examine social anxiety as a risk factor for alcohol-related sexual victimization among college women.



Women (Time 1: n = 574; Time 2: n = 88) who reported consuming alcohol at least once during the assessment timeframe participated. Social anxiety, alcohol use, alcohol-related consequences, and sexual victimization were assessed twice, approximately two months apart. Logistic regressions were used to examine social anxiety as a risk factor for alcohol-related sexual victimization at both time points.



Longitudinally, women high in social anxiety were approximately three times more likely to endorse unwanted alcohol-related sexual experiences compared to women with low to moderate social anxiety.



This study suggests social anxiety, a modifiable construct, increases risk for alcohol-related sexual victimization among college women. Implications for clinicians and risk-reduction program developers are discussed.
Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, 109 Williams Hall (0436), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Electronic address: aschry@vt.edu.
Amie R
AR
Schry
Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, 109 Williams Hall (0436), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Electronic address: bmaddox7@vt.edu.
Brenna B
BB
Maddox
Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, 109 Williams Hall (0436), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Electronic address: sww@vt.edu.
Susan W
SW
White
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067292:Alcohol Drinking in College / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
Alcohol; Risk factors; Sexual assault; Social anxiety; Undergraduates