Early life adversity and violent victimization in adulthood: Examining the moderating role of alcohol use

Early life adversities (ELAs) are positively associated with violent victimization in early adulthood. The use of maladaptive coping behaviors, such as alcohol use, may exacerbate risk for victimization during this life course period.

The current study assesses whether and to what extent the association between ELAs and violent victimization in adulthood varies across specific ELA type and the moderating role of alcohol use in late adolescence.

Data are drawn from the Child and Young Adult Supplement of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (CNLSY), which has followed respondents from childhood to adulthood (N = 4105).

Negative binomial and logistic regression models are estimated to assess the independent effects of five different ELAs on overall, single, and chronic violent victimization. Multiplicative interaction terms are used to test for the moderating role of alcohol use.

Several ELAs were significantly associated with violent victimization across all three outcomes. Alcohol use significantly increased risk for overall violent victimization, but was not associated with single or chronic victimization. Contrary to expectations, alcohol use did not strengthen associations between ELAs and violent victimization. Rather, participants without a history of ELA who drank more frequently in adolescence were more likely to experience victimization later in life.

The findings suggest that ELAs are associated with risk for violent victimization in adulthood. Frequency of alcohol use appears to not strengthen these associations, calling for future efforts to clarify its role in the ELA-victimization relationship across the life course.