A Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Role of Sexual Objectification in the Relationship Between Alcohol Use and Sexual Assault Perpetration.

In this study, we examined how sexual objectification can help explicate the relationship between alcohol use and sexual assault perpetration. Specifically, we examined a mediation and a moderation model. Moreover, given that gender roles and sexual norms vary across cultures, we also examined the structural invariance of the models between a U.S. male (n = 404) and Philippines male (n = 100) college sample. Path analyses were used to examine the mediation and the moderation model, and multiple groups analysis was utilized to examine model differences between samples. Sexual objectification fully mediated the relationship between alcohol use severity and sexual aggression. Furthermore, the mediation model was invariant between the U.S. sample and Philippines sample. A significant alcohol use severity by sexual objectification interaction effect was found for both samples. Simple slopes analysis indicated that alcohol use severity was not associated with sexual aggression among those with high sexual objectification scores. Among men with low sexual objectification scores, alcohol use severity was associated with higher likelihood toward sexual assault. For the Filipino sample, the impact of alcohol consumption on sexual aggression is more pronounced compared with the U.S. sample. Sexual objectification is a key variable in understanding the alcohol use-sexual aggression relationship. Country differences in alcohol use, cultural meanings of Filipino masculinity, and sexual norms and behaviors accounts for noninvariance in the moderation model. Implications for sexual assault reduction programs were also discussed.

Alexithymia, Prior Trauma, Alcohol Use, and Sexual Aggression Perpetration: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of a Moderated Mediation Model.

In this study, we examined the relationships between prior trauma, alexithymia, and sexual aggression perpetration among 610 U.S. college students and 107 college students from the Philippines utilizing a cross-sectional retrospective design. We tested a moderated mediation model with alexithymia as the mediator between prior trauma and sexual aggression perpetration, and alcohol use as a moderator of the alexithymia-sexual aggression link. Moreover, given that cultural norms may influence these relationships, we also examined the structural invariance of the proposed moderated mediation model. Path analyses and multiple group analysis were used to examine the moderated mediation model, and examine model differences between samples. We did not find evidence for alexithymia as a mediator, but there was a significant interaction between alcohol use severity and alexithymia on sexual aggression perpetration across both samples. Alexithymia is a key variable in understanding the alcohol use-sexual aggression perpetration relationship. Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are also discussed.

Traumatic Events Are Associated with Diverse Psychological Symptoms in Typically-Developing Children.

Childhood traumatic events are significant risk factors for psychopathology according to adult retrospective research; however, few studies examine trauma exposure and psychological symptoms in pre-adolescent children. Typically-developing children, aged 9-12 years (N = 114), were recruited from the community and selected from the Developmental Chronnecto-Genomics (Dev-CoG) study examining child development. Children completed questionnaires about traumatic life events, posttraumatic stress, anxiety, depression, dissociation, anger, and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Parents also completed internalizing and externalizing measures. The number of traumatic events significantly correlated with symptom severity across all child-report psychological measures, but surprisingly, trauma was not correlated with any parent-report scores. Follow-up analyses revealed a significant trauma effect for internalizing and externalizing behaviors according to child self-report, but not for parent-report measures. Results indicate that childhood trauma may be a non-specific risk factor for sub-clinical psychopathology in otherwise typically-developing children. Moreover, children appear to be the most appropriate reporters of their own psychological distress.

Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20: Examining 18 Competing Factor Structure Solutions in a U.S. Sample and a Philippines Sample.

The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 is arguably the most utilized measure of alexithymia. Although a three-factor solution has been found by numerous studies, these findings are not universal. This article examined and compared 18 competing factor structures for the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, which included between one and four correlated latent factor structures, common methods models that accounts for negatively worded items, and bifactor models. Although the two-factor bifactor model with a common methods factor had the better model fit compared with the other 17 models examined, it still did not achieve the requisites of a good model fit across all model fit indices. Issues stemmed primarily from the externally oriented thinking factor and the negatively worded items. Post hoc analyses indicated that a two-factor bifactor model with the negatively worded items dropped achieved the requisites of a good model fit and can be treated as a unidimensional measure despite the presence of multidimensionality. Multiple-group analysis indicated that the factor loadings were invariant across U.S. and Philippines samples. After controlling for noninvariance at the item intercept level, the Philippines sample had a higher alexithymia general score compared with the U.S. sample.

The interaction of child/adolescent trauma exposure, emotion regulation difficulties, and induced negative mood on tension reduction alcohol expectancies.

Past research has reported that college students use alcohol to manage their negative affective experiences. However, this finding is somewhat mixed in mood induction studies, and it is also unclear which students are most vulnerable to drinking for these reasons. The current study examined the roles of child/adolescent trauma exposure with emphasis on early sexual abuse and emotion regulation difficulties on college students' alcohol-related tension reduction expectancies during a mood induction paradigm. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimentally induced negative or neutral mood condition with questionnaire batteries completed pre- and postinduction. Primary results were based on participants reporting exposure to at least one traumatic event (n = 134). Findings indicated that participants in the negative compared to the neutral mood condition reported heightened tension reduction expectancies; this was particularly salient as exposure to child/adolescent sexual abuse increased. A trend (p = .08) suggested that tension reduction expectancies were higher for participants in the negative mood condition, as reports of sexual abuse and emotion regulation difficulties increased, and after accounting for posttraumatic stress symptoms. Tension reduction expectancies as a risk factor for problem drinking following trauma exposure are discussed, and further, indications that risk for problem drinking following sexual abuse is associated with difficulties managing typical, rather than extreme levels of negative affect are emphasized. Clinical implications include the potential modification of brief alcohol interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Problem drinking among at-risk college students: The examination of Greek involvement, freshman status, and history of mental health problems.

OBJECTIVE: Scarce research has examined the combined effect of mental health difficulties and demographic risk factors such as freshman status and Greek affiliation in understanding college problem drinking. The current study is interested in looking at the interaction among freshman status, Greek affiliation, and mental health difficulties. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Undergraduate students (N = 413) from a private and public Midwestern university completed a large online survey battery between January 2009 and April 2013. Data from both schools were aggregated for the analyses. RESULTS: After accounting for gender, age, and school type, the three-way interaction indicated that the highest drinking levels were reported in freshman students who reported a history of mental health problems although were not involved in Greek life. CONCLUSIONS: Findings are discussed in the context of perceived social norms, as well as alcohol-related screenings and intervention opportunities on college campuses.

An examination of alcohol risk profiles and co-occurring mental health symptoms among OEF/OIF veterans.

INTRODUCTION: Compared to the general population, veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/OIF) are more likely to engage in hazardous alcohol use and meet criteria for mental health disorders including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder. Less is known how distinct profiles of alcohol use behavior relate to mental health symptoms. METHOD: The current study examined the extent that indicators of alcohol use (i.e., drinks per week, peak blood alcohol concentration, and alcohol-related problems) are categorized into different alcohol risk profiles utilizing a person-centered approach. We also examined how mental health symptoms (i.e., PTSD, depression, and anxiety-related symptoms) were associated with the alcohol risk profiles. Participants were 252 Veterans who reported consuming alcohol within the past month. RESULTS: Latent profile analysis indicated a four-class solution yielded the best-fitting model, and profiles were named based on their respective levels and patterns of alcohol use. Mental health symptoms were significantly different among the four profiles. Profiles of veterans who endorsed more alcohol-related problems (i.e., the "Severe alcohol behavior" and "Steady drinkers with functional impairment") also reported comorbid clinical symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The "Binge drinkers with no functional impairment" and "Mild alcohol behavior" profiles reported the lowest levels of mental health symptoms. DISCUSSION: Findings highlight the unique relationship between distinct alcohol risk profiles and mental health outcomes. Targeted interventions and treatment options based on unique alcohol risk profiles may be helpful in tailoring prevention and intervention efforts in detecting co-occurring mental health symptoms among OEF/OIF veterans.

Drinking motives mediate emotion regulation difficulties and problem drinking in college students.

BACKGROUND: Problem drinking in college places students at an increased risk for a wealth of negative consequences including alcohol use disorders. Most research has shown that greater emotion regulation difficulties are related to increased problem drinking, and studies generally assume that drinking is motivated by efforts to cope with or enhance affective experiences. However, there is a lack of research specifically testing this assumption. OBJECTIVES: The current study sought to examine the mediating potential of drinking motives, specifically coping and enhancement, on the relationship between emotion regulation and problem drinking. METHOD: College participants (N = 200) completed an online survey, consisting of a battery of measures assessing alcohol use behaviors and related variables. RESULTS: Coping drinking motives fully mediated the emotion regulation/problem drinking relationship, and enhancement motives partially mediated this relationship. Exploratory analyses indicated that all four drinking motives (i.e. coping, enhancement, social, and conformity) simultaneously mediated the relationship between emotion regulation and quantity/frequency of alcohol use. However, only coping and enhancement significantly mediated the relationship between emotion regulation and alcohol-related consequences (e.g. alcohol dependence symptoms, alcohol-related injuries). CONCLUSION: The current results offer direction for potentially modifying brief alcohol interventions in efforts to reduce students' engagement in problem drinking behaviors. For example, interventions might incorporate information on the risks of using alcohol as a means of emotion regulation and offer alternative emotion regulation strategies.

Proposed pathways to problematic drinking via post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and dissociative tendencies following child/adolescent sexual abuse.

The relationship between early sexual abuse and college problem drinking was examined using an integration of the self-medication and vulnerability-stress models. Baseline survey data from parti-cipants (N = 213; 135 men and 78 college women) completing a mandated, brief alcohol intervention were utilized. Representative of the self-medication model, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms mediated the early sexual abuse/problem drinking relationship. Two psychological vulnerability factors-emotion dysregulation and dissociative tendencies-were incorporated into self-medication findings via more advanced mediational models. Results highlighted that problem drinking increased as dissociative tendencies increased, and relations between the vulnerability factors and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms were in an unexpected direction.

PTSD Symptoms Mediate Academic Stress and Drinking to Cope in College Students.

Heightened perceptions of academic stress may increase college alcohol use behaviors, namely problem drinking and drinking to cope. Leading from prior research, the current study examined posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms as a mediator between academic stress and alcohol use behaviors. Undergraduate participants (N=200) completed an online survey battery. Results indicated that posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms mediated the relationship between academic stress and drinking to cope. Findings maintained after excluding the small portion of the sample without prior trauma. Results suggest that early trauma exposure may increase stress sensitivity, which is associated with elevated nontraumatic academic stress and stress-related symptoms. An increase in stress symptoms likely promotes drinking as a method of coping. Information on the role of trauma and stress may be incorporated into alcohol intervention programs.

Child abuse exposure, emotion regulation, and drinking refusal self-efficacy: an analysis of problem drinking in college students.

BACKGROUND: Problem drinking in college is a longstanding problem with potentially severe consequences. More recently, problem drinking has been linked to emotion regulation difficulties. However, these results are mixed and emphasize the need to examine moderating variables that may strengthen the problem drinking/emotion regulation relationship. Two such variables are child/adolescent sexual abuse (CASA) and drinking refusal self-efficacy (DRSE). OBJECTIVES: The current study hypothesized that the relations between emotion regulation difficulties and problem drinking would be most salient for college students with increased CASA exposure and decreased DRSE. Secondary analyses examined the hypothesis taking into consideration cumulative child/adolescent trauma exposure. METHODS: Undergraduate students (n = 200) completed a large survey battery for course credit. RESULTS: Three-way interactions across the CASA and cumulative trauma models were significant and in a similar direction. RESULTS indicated that for students without trauma exposure, problem drinking was the greatest for those with decreased DRSE and increased emotion regulation difficulties. As trauma exposure increased, problem drinking was the greatest for those with decreased DRSE and decreased emotion regulation difficulties (or superior perceived regulatory abilities). CONCLUSION: Discussion highlights the importance of considering DRSE and the possibility of reduced insight in trauma-exposed students, who may perceive alcohol use as an adaptive regulatory strategy.

Examining Spouse/Partner Presence as a Moderator in the Relationship between Mental Health Symptoms and Alcohol Use in OEF/OIF Veterans.

Veterans from the conflicts in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom; OEF) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom; OIF) have reported elevated rates of alcohol consumption, and greater depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are associated with increased alcohol use. Presence of a spouse/partner, which has been associated with reduced drinking, may buffer the relationship between mental health symptoms and alcohol consumption. To examine this hypothesis, the current study utilized baseline survey data from OEF/OIF veterans (N=325) enrolled in a brief alcohol intervention. Spouse/partner presence moderated the relationship between depression symptoms and alcohol consumption such that depression was positively associated with drinking for veterans without a spouse/partner. Exploratory analyses indicated that the relationship between depression and alcohol use may be particularly salient for veterans without a spouse/partner and a lower number of deployments. Spouse/partner presence did not moderate the relationship between PTSD symptoms and alcohol consumption. Implications of the findings are discussed.

The relationship between alexithymia and alcohol-related risk perceptions: The moderating effect of general trauma in a college population.

The current study explored the moderating influence of general trauma exposure (GTE) on the relationship between alexithymia and alcohol-related risk perceptions. Undergraduate college students (N=237) completed a battery of self-report measures. After controlling for relevant variables, results indicated that the interaction between alexithymia and GTE significantly predicted alcohol-related risk perception. Simple effects revealed that for students who reported higher rates of GTE, alexithymia positively predicted risk perception; this relationship did not exist among students with lower GTE. Exploratory analyses indicated that despite increased risk perception, individuals with GTE also reported greater alcohol-related problems compared to students with low trauma exposure. The current study highlights the importance of examining risk perception abilities in individuals with alexithymia and GTE as well as the impact of risk perception on alcohol-related risk behaviors.

Emotional reactivity across individuals with varying trauma and substance dependence histories.

BACKGROUND: Research has reported a high rate of substance dependence in traumatized individuals who do not develop PTSD (TWP). While past studies have failed to consistently demonstrate that TWP individuals experience PTSD symptoms, findings have indicated that TWP and a history of substance dependence aside from nicotine dependence (SDH) are linked to affect disruption. AIMS: The present study explored positive and negative affective mechanisms across four groups with varying SDH and TWP including TWP + SDH, TWP only, SDH only, or no history. Researchers hypothesized that adults (n = 78) would be more emotionally reactive to an experimentally-induced negative mood compared to a neutral mood induction as the presence of co-existing TWP and SDH increased. METHOD: After a brief telephone screening, eligible participants completed baseline self-report questionnaires and experimentally-manipulated negative and neutral mood inductions. RESULTS: Most notably, results showed a significant TWP x SDH x Mood induction interaction (F (1, 63) = 4.154; Mse = 51.999; p = .046) for positive affect responses. Simple effects indicated that all participants except TWP + SDH individuals experienced a significant decrease in positive affect during the negative compared to the neutral mood condition. CONCLUSION: Findings may identify a protective mechanism for relapse among individuals with a history of both TWP and SDH.

Coerced childhood sexual abuse moderates the association between cigarette smoking initiation and college drug use frequency.

The current study examined childhood sexual abuse (CSA) as a potential moderator of the "gateway theory" association of cigarette use onset and college drug use. Covariate adjusted hierarchical regressions showed that CSA history interacted with age of first cigarette to predict total 12-month illicit drug use frequency (Delta R(2) =.048, F(10, 76) = 4.041, Mse = 8.812, p =.021). Simple effects revealed that age of first cigarette predicted drug use frequency in individuals with CSA histories (p =.045) rather than non-CSA individuals (p =.103). Exploratory analyses further revealed that the CSA moderation was carried primarily by those exposed to forced/coerced CSA events. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Trauma exposure influences cue elicited affective responses among smokers with and without a history of major depression.

The current study tested the emotional reactivity of smokers with and without histories of major depression (MDD Hx) and trauma exposure (TE). Four counterbalanced conditions nested negative (e.g., dysphoric) or neutral mood inductions with in vivo versus control smoking paraphernalia cues (Neutral+Control; Neutral+Cigarette; Neg+Control; Neg+Cigarette). Mixed model analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) tested between and within subjects differences in negative affective symptoms pre- to post-exposure across four groups (TE+MDD Hx; TE only; MDD Hx only; no history). Results produced two notable effects. First, TE only individuals endorsed the greatest increase in depressive symptoms across both negative mood induction conditions (regardless of smoking paraphernalia) compared with other groups. Second, dual history participants (TE+MDD Hx) show a potentiated depressive response to the Neg+Cigarette condition compared with the Neg+Control condition. Implications to a depression-specific negative affective vulnerability among TE only smokers that is independent of MDD Hx and greater than smokers with a MDD Hx are discussed.

Child sexual abuse, dissociation, and alcohol: implications of chemical dissociation via blackouts among college women.

The present study examined whether childhood sexual trauma moderated the relationships between dissociation and both problematic college drinking and alcohol-induced blackouts among a sample of college females (N = 156). Cross-sectional data were consistent with the moderation hypotheses. Simple effects showed that the relationship between dissociation and blackout frequency as well as problematic drinking only existed among those with sexual trauma histories (p < .035), but not among those reporting no sexual trauma exposure (p = .333). Findings implicate the use of alcohol as a possible maladaptive coping mechanism among college females with childhood sexual trauma.