Cumulative Violence Victimization in Young Adulthood and Alcohol Use Disorder Symptoms at Age 35

This study investigated whether cumulative violence victimization during young adulthood was associated with symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD) at age 35 in a large U.S. national sample.

Data were from the Monitoring the Future (MTF) panel study (n = 6,275). Violence victimization was assessed at seven young adult waves (from ages 18 to 30) and coded as a cumulative count of waves in which violence was reported (0-3+). At age 35, respondents were coded as no recent alcohol use, non-disordered use, or disordered use symptoms. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between young adult violence victimization and age 35 AUD symptoms, controlling for key covariates.

At age 35, 10.9% reported no alcohol use in the past 5 years, 60.8% non-disordered use, and 28.3% AUD symptoms. The odds of AUD symptoms (compared to non-disordered use) at age 35 significantly increased with more waves of experienced violence in young adulthood. Specifically, violence victimization in three or more waves was associated with significantly greater odds of disordered (vs. non-disordered) alcohol use (aOR = 2.49, 95% CI: 2.02-3.06), relative to those reporting no violence victimization.

Cumulative violence victimization in young adulthood was associated with increased risk of AUD symptoms in midlife. Results highlight the importance of AUD treatment options that acknowledge violence exposure as a risk factor for substance use and problems.