NCJ Number
202014
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 8 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 2003 Pages: 471-486
Editor(s)
Vincent B. Van Hasselt,
Michael Hersen
Date Published
September 2003
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This literature review examines recent non-experimental field studies addressing the role of alcohol in the sexual assault of women.
Abstract
Even though research has shown alcohol to be clearly related to a person’s risk of sexual assault and present in a significant portion of sexual assault incidents, it is less clear on the exact nature of alcohol’s role. This review focuses on recent studies of nationally representative samples examining how the studies can inform research and prevention efforts can address the risk of sexual assault victimization on women. To start, evidence is reviewed to evaluate whether there is a distal relationship between alcohol and risk of sexual assault victimization. Then, evidence for a proximal role of drinking prior to a sexual assault victimization incident is examined to determine alcohol’s role in rape and injury outcomes to victims. In these two types of studies, theoretical and methodological issues are discussed regarding the existing literature. In guiding future research, two theoretical models are proposed: (1) the global associations of drinking and sexual assault risk across the life span (macrolevel model) and (2) the role of drinking in the outcomes of actual sexual incidents (microlevel model). References