Proximal Associations between Alcohol Use, Cannabis Use, and Intimate Partner Sexual Violence Perpetration and Victimization: Differences Across Men and Women

Intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) is a pervasive issue among college students. Empirical evidence demonstrates substance use positively associates to IPSV perpetration and victimization. Further investigation is needed to assess whether substance use is a possible antecedent to IPSV perpetration and/or victimization. Therefore, the current investigation aimed to identify whether substance use, specifically alcohol and cannabis, proximally associate with IPSV perpetration and victimization among college students. Participants were undergraduate students who are 18 years of age or older, in a current relationship, have a partner 18 years or older, have consumed alcohol in the past month, and have a minimum of two contact days with their partner per week. Results showed women were more likely to experience IPSV victimization on days they drank more than usual (aOR = 1.16, p < .001). Similarly, women were more likely to perpetrate IPSV on days they drank more than usual (aOR = 1.14, p = .03). Women’s odds of IPSV victimization (aOR = 2.15, p = .04) and perpetration (aOR = 3.20, p = .01) were higher on a cannabis use day compared to non-cannabis use days. There were no significant results for alcohol or cannabis use among men for IPSV victimization or perpetration. These findings highlight the importance of alcohol and cannabis-centered IPSV prevention among college students. Further research on cannabis use’s impact on men’s risk of IPSV and how these findings can be incorporated into college-prevention programs is needed to supplement existing efforts.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Department dc:contributor.department

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Tobar-Santamaria, Allison Linnette

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Brem, Meagan J.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Davis, Heather
• Kim-Spoon, Jungmeen

• Intimate Partner Sexual Violence
• Alcohol
• Cannabis

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10919/124678

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/124678