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Sexual Assault and Alcohol Use Among Adults in Residential Substance Use Treatment: The Roles of Shame and Emotional
Prachi H Bhuptani1,2, Aradhana Srinagesh3, Reina Kiefer3
1Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.
Objective:
Sexual assault is a prevalent public health concern linked to numerous negative health consequences, including increased alcohol use and related harm. The current cross-sectional study examined the roles of shame and emotional avoidance in the association between a history of sexual assault and alcohol use and related harm among adults receiving residential substance use treatment. Specifically, we examined whether a history of sexual assault related to alcohol use and related harm indirectly through heightened shame and greater emotional avoidance.
Method:
Participants were 140 adults in residential substance use treatment (M age = 40.6 years, 50.8% women, 70.0% White) who completed self-report measures assessing sexual assault, shame, emotional avoidance, and alcohol use and related harm.
Results:
Cross-sectional mediation analyses indicated that a history of sexual assault was indirectly associated with increased alcohol use and related harm via heightened shame and greater emotional avoidance.
Conclusions:
Findings suggest that interventions targeting alcohol use and related harm may benefit from reducing shame and decreasing emotional avoidance among individuals with a history of sexual assault.
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