Problematic alcohol use and sexting as risk factors for sexual assault among college women. Issue 7 (3rd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dir, Allyson L.; Riley, Elizabeth N.; Cyders, Melissa A.; Smith, Gregory T.
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 66:Issue 7(2018)
• Page Start: 553
• Page End: 560
• Publication Date: 2018-10-03
• Subjects: Alcohol use -- sexting -- sexual assault; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1432622
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Sexual assault is a major public health concern and college women are four times more likely to experience sexual assault than any other group. We investigated whether sexting is a mechanism by which alcohol use increases risk for college women to be targeted for sexual assault. We hypothesized that sexting would mediate the relationship between problem drinking and sexual assault, such that drinking (T1 = beginning fall semester) would contribute to increased sexting (T2 = end fall semester), and in turn increase the risk of being targeted for sexual assault (T3 = end spring semester). Results : Among 332 undergraduate women ( M (SD)age = 19.15(1.69), 76.9% Caucasian), sexting (T2) predicted sexual assault (T3; b = 3.98, p = .05), controlling for baseline sexual assault ( b = 0.82, p < .01). Further, sexting (T2) mediated the relationship between problem drinking (T1) and sexual assault (T3) ( b = 0.04, CI[.004, .12]). Conclusion : Findings suggest that sexting is one mechanism through which drinking increases the risk of college women being targeted for sexual assault.