Alcohol and sexual aggression in a national sample of college men

Analyzed the role of alcohol in sexual assaults committed by 694 men identified from a national sample of 2,972 male college students (mean age 21 yrs) completing a survey. Interactions of alcohol use with assault variables did not suggest any synergistic role of alcohol use in predicting sexual aggression severity. Path analysis showed, however, that offender propensity to abuse alcohol and victim preassault alcohol use were each both directly and indirectly related to sexual aggression severity, whereas offender preassault alcohol use was not directly related to sexual aggression severity. This study suggests that alcohol use plays both direct and indirect roles in the outcomes of sexual assaults. Rape and alcohol abuse prevention efforts can benefit from incorporating information about alcohol's role in different assault contexts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2002 APA, all rights reserved)
Author: 
Ullman,Sarah E.
Karabatsos,George
Koss,Mary P.
Notes: 
LA- English AN- 1999-15842-002
Reprint Status: 
IN FILE
Start Page: 
673
End Page: 
689
Journal/Periodical Name: 
Psychology of Women Quarterly
Volume: 
23
Issue: 
4
Abstract: 
This paper analyzed the role of alcohol in sexual assaults committed by 694 men identified from a national sample of 2,972 male college students (mean age 21 years) completing a survey. Interactions of alcohol use with assault variables did not suggest any synergistic role of alcohol use in predicting sexual aggression severity. Path analysis showed, however, that offender propensity to abuse alcohol and victim pre-assault alcohol use were each both directly and indirectly related to sexual aggression severity, whereas offender pre-assault alcohol use was not directly related to sexual aggression severity. This study suggests that alcohol use plays both direct and indirect roles in the outcomes of sexual assaults. Rape and alcohol abuse prevention efforts can benefit from incorporating information about alcohol's role in different assault contexts.
Topic Areas: 
Alcohol, Prevention, Risk
Reference Type: 
JOUR
Reference ID: 
1107
Publication Date: 
1999/12/December