Examining Revictimization of Incapacitated Sexual Assault
The use of alcohol and drugs can lead to behaviors that otherwise would not take place. Individuals with inhibitions lowered may participate in risky sexual behaviors, commit assault or decide to drive a car with little control over their motor skills.
Due to an increased willingness to take risks that otherwise may not be tempting, individuals can also place themselves in situations where their safety is compromised. Research showed that college females who drink alcohol have an increased risk of incapacitated sexual assault (ISA) when compared with women who do not drink.
Victims of ISA are also at a higher risk of additional instances of ISA. As a result, there have been efforts across college campuses to reduce the occurrences of ISA through education and prevention efforts targeted to decreasing alcohol consumption. It has not been determined, however, whether the efforts have led to a reduction in ISA.
A recent study by Terri L. Messman-Moore of the Department of Psychology at MiamiUniversity examined whether a history of ISA was a predictor of an increased risk of revictimization. The study also examined the roles played by emotional dysregulation in addition to alcohol consumption.
The decision to focus on emotional dysregulation in addition to alcohol consumption was based on the understanding that ISA often results in high levels of guilt, fear and shame. These reactions may manifest themselves in maladaptive means of coping, such as with alcohol consumption and risk-taking behaviors.
To test the presence of emotional dysregulation and its role in ISA, Messman-Moore recruited 229 college women. They were interviewed to gather information about ISA history and alcohol-related behaviors. The women were interviewed again after nine weeks.
The interviews revealed that women that were victimized while going through the nine-week study period also had a prior history of ISA. Seventy-three percent of the women who were victims of ISA during the study were victimized previously.
The women who had been victimized repeatedly were more likely to report use of drugs and alcohol. They also had higher levels of emotional dysregulation, fear and guilt when compared with women in the study who had no history of ISA.
Surprisingly, however, the women who had been revictimized did not report higher levels of alcohol use when compared with the women who had a history of ISA but were not revictimized.
The findings provide evidence that emotional dysregulation, which leads to increased instances of risky behavior, may increase the risk of revictimization for the women, regardless of alcohol consumption habits.
Messman-Moore explained that efforts to reduce revictimization and improve safety for women on college campuses should focus efforts on treatment for emotional regulation skills. These strategies may help reduce risk among women with increased vulnerability.
The study’s findings appear in a recent issue of the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.