Testing posttraumatic stress as a mediator of physical, sexual, and psychological intimate partner violence and substance problems among women

J Trauma Stress. 2009 Dec;22(6):575-84. doi: 10.1002/jts.20474.

Abstract

This study examined whether posttraumatic stress specifically resulting from intimate partner violence (IPV-related posttraumatic stress) mediated relationships between types of IPV and drug and alcohol problems among 212 women currently experiencing IPV. Six-month prevalence was high for drug use (48%) and alcohol use (59%). Structural equation modeling revealed that the frequency of physical, sexual, and psychological IPV were significantly and positively related to greater IPV-related posttraumatic stress, and IPV-related posttraumatic stress was significantly and positively related to drug problems. Further, IPV-related posttraumatic stress mediated the relationships between physical IPV and drug problems and psychological IPV and drug problems. Findings suggest that prevention and intervention efforts targeting posttraumatic stress among IPV-exposed women may reduce drug problems in this population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology*
  • Alcoholism / psychology*
  • Causality
  • Coercion
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs*
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Psychological
  • Rape / psychology
  • Rape / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Offenses / psychology*
  • Sex Offenses / statistics & numerical data*
  • Spouse Abuse / psychology*
  • Spouse Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology*

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs