خشونت خانگی و مصرف الکل: علائم مربوط به تروما و انگیزه برای نوشیدن

Alcohol use is frequently associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially in the face of chronic traumatic experiences. However, the relationship between alcohol use and symptoms associated with chronic trauma exposure has not been evaluated. This study examined alcohol use in recently battered women (N = 369). Differences were found in trauma symptoms between abstainers, moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers, with heavy drinkers reporting more severe symptoms. Mediational analyses suggest that the relationship between drinking and trauma symptoms is mediated by drinking to cope, which has not been previously demonstrated in a battered population. Results suggest the importance of assessing trauma symptoms and motives for drinking in understanding alcohol use in recent survivors of domestic violence.

Compared with men, women are disproportionately exposed to chronic types of interpersonal violence (IPV), such as domestic violence (Kessler et al., 2001 and Jones et al., 2001). Chronic traumatic events have been implicated in more severe post-trauma symptomatology, such as depression, PTSD, and complex PTSD (CPTSD), a proposed diagnosis intended to address trauma-related psychopathology (Herman, 1992 and Roth et al., 1997). Chronic traumatic events have also been associated with increased problems with alcohol use (Clark and Foy, 2000, Simpson, 2003 and Stewart, 1996). However, the relationships among IPV, alcohol use, trauma symptoms, and motives for drinking have been relatively unaddressed in the literature. This study examines alcohol use among battered women from a community sample. Particular attention is paid to the predictive value of trauma symptoms and motives for heavy episodic drinking.