Substance use, aggression perpetration, and victimization: temporal co-occurrence in college males and females

Discordant and Concordant Substance Use and Daily Partner Violence in Adolescent and Young Adult Relationships With Baseline Dating Violence

PURPOSE

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and substance use in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are significant public health issues in the United States. Together, they can harm emotional regulation and romantic relationship functioning. This study examines the role of concordant and discordant substance use on IPV within AYA relationships.

METHODS

A prospective cohort of community-recruited AYA women in a heterosexual dating relationship with past-month IPV completed four months of daily surveys via a cell phone. Each day, participants reported any IPV perpetration and/or victimization, their alcohol and drug use, and observed partner substance use. Concordant substance use was coded when the participant and partner used drugs or alcohol on the same day. Discordant use was coded when only the participant or partner used drugs or alcohol on a given day. Alcohol and drug use were modeled separately. Generalized estimating equations accounted for the correlation of repeated measures.

RESULTS

Participants (N = 143) were 18.2 (1.1) years old, 93% African American race. Discordant alcohol and drug use was associated with same-day victimization, perpetration, and co-occurring violence compared to concordant nonuse. Similarly, concordant alcohol use, drug use, and alcohol/drug use were associated with increased odds of victimization, perpetration, and co-occurring violence compared to concordant nonuse.

DISCUSSION

Daily data illustrated that dyadic patterns of substance use are associated with IPV. These findings may facilitate the development of effective and developmentally appropriate IPV intervention programs for AYA that also integrate strategies to reduce substance use.

Alcohol and psychoactive substance use in a cohort of children followed by child protection in France

Background and aim

Many studies have investigated the association between maltreatment and substance use in adulthood.In this study, we sought to explore the association between substance use during adolescence, diverse forms of child maltreatment, and psychological symptoms within a cohort of individuals under the purview of child protection services in France.

Method

The dataset was culled from a retrospective, population-based study encompassing minors and young adults aged 0 to 21, who were under the care of child protection services. Specifically, we conducted a comparative analysis between minors exhibiting substance use (N = 72) and those without such use (N = 776).

Result

The odds ratios predominantly illuminated a significant correlation between Substance Use and the manifestation of self-destructive behavior (OR = 4.35; CI 2.02-9.59), as well as aggressive behavior (OR = 5.75; CI 2.87-11.84). Univariate analysis also hinted at an association between SUD and suicidal ideation (OR = 3.52; CI 2.1-5.90).

Conclusion

Children in France who are in the care of child protection services and who use psychoactive substances are at greater risk of dropping out of school and of having other psychological symptoms. It is important that the public authorities take account of these results in order to adjust the care given to these minors, who often do not receive psychological support.

Substance use and victimization experiences among college students in Spain

OBJECTIVE

We examined relationships between different types and patterns of substance use and victimization experiences.

PARTICIPANTS

College students from two universities in Spain completed an online, cross-sectional survey.

METHOD

A series of tetrachoric correlations were estimated to examine the bivariate associations between different types of substances and victimization experiences. Regression analyses then examined relationships between patterns of substance use (non-users, mono-users, and poly-users), and victimization.

RESULTS

Slightly over half (57.7%) of students reported any form of victimization during the previous year, and most students (87.0%) reported using substances during the last three months. Polysubstance users were more likely than non-users to experience any victimization, as well as multiple forms of victimization.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the importance of differentiating types and patterns of substance use when developing prevention and intervention programs. Implementing intervention strategies that target polysubstance users and decrease substance use could reduce rates of victimization among college students.

Substance Use and Violent Victimization: Evidence from a Cohort of >82,000 Patients Treated for Alcohol and Drug Use Disorder in Denmark

Although the association between substance use and violence has been well established, knowledge on predictors for violent victimization of individuals treated for alcohol use disorder (AUD) or drug use disorder (DUD) is lacking. Using Goldstein's tripartite conceptual framework, this study examines the relationship between substance use and violent victimization. Data were derived from national registers on persons aged between 15 and 75 years, living in Denmark, and admitted for AUD or DUD treatment during 2006-2016 (n = 82,767). Rates of new incidence of violent victimization were estimated per 10,000 person years for the patient cohort, and for an age- and gender-matched control group of 492,397 people with no history of treatment for drug and alcohol problems. The incidence of victimization for the AUD/DUD sample was 145.6 per 10,000 person years and 5.4 per 10,000 person years for the comparison cohort. Results of multivariate Cox regression on specific types of substance use supported Goldstein's psychopharmacological and economic compulsive models of victimization, but not the systemic model. Gender-stratified results showed that the use of cannabis and methadone was associated with victimization in women treated for AUD and DUD. Patients with a non-Western background were more likely to experience victimization than Danish patients. The study highlights the strong association between substance use disorder and victimization, and the important role that service providers play in addressing the high levels of victimization experienced by patients with AUD or DUD.

History of Physical Teen Dating Violence and Its Association With Suicidal Behaviors Among Adolescent High School Students: Results From the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Although studies have investigated and found physical teen dating violence (TDV) has a significant negative impact on mental health outcomes, few studies are yet to investigate the effect of physical TDV on suicidal behaviors among adolescents. The objectives of this study are to examine the prevalence of physical TDV, suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt among adolescents aged 14 to 18 years and the association between physical TDV and these suicidal behaviors. Data for this study were obtained from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A sample of 9,693 adolescents aged 14 to 18 years (50.4% males) was analyzed using logistic regression with suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt as outcome variables and physical TDV as the main explanatory variable. About 17% of the adolescent students experienced suicidal ideation, 13.7% made a suicide plan, and 7.6% attempted suicide during the past 12 months. Among those who were dating, 9.9% experienced physical TDV. In the multivariate logistic regression, adolescent students who experienced physical TDV were 1.92 times more likely to have experienced suicidal ideation, 1.67 times more likely to have made a suicide plan, and 2.42 times more likely to have attempted suicide during the past 12 months when compared with their counterparts who were dating but experienced no physical TDV. Other significant predictors of suicidal behaviors include being a sexual minority, experiencing forced sex, bullying, feeling sad or hopeless, and binge drinking. Having sufficient sleep lowered the odds of suicidal ideation and suicide plan. The topic of physical TDV and its association with suicidal behaviors among adolescents is such an important issue for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the United States and around the world. Prevention and intervention efforts should be culturally tailored to reflect the unique experiences with physical TDV and suicide among minority populations such as sexual minority adolescents.

Relationship trajectories of women experiencing alcohol-related intimate partner violence: A grounded-theory analysis of women's voices

RATIONALE

The association between male partner alcohol use and increased risk and severity of their perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) is well-established in quantitative research. However, few studies have explored the nature and trajectory of relationships involving partner drinking and abuse, and how women find pathways to safety.

OBJECTIVE AND METHOD

We conducted in-depth interviews with a community sample of 18 Australian women (aged 20-50 years) who reported feeling afraid when their male partner drank alcohol. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, we identified key processes underpinning women's experience of alcohol-related IPV and mapped these over four relationship phases.

RESULTS

Partner alcohol use played a key role in how women interpreted and dealt with IPV victimisation. In early relationships, women spoke of not seeing or dismissing early warning signs of problem drinking and aggression in settings that normalized men's heavy drinking. Later, women identified patterns of inter-connected drinking and aggression, leading to questioning their reality, trying to 'fix' their partner's drinking to stop the abuse, and in the absence of change, learning to manage daily life around the drinking and abuse. In the third phase, giving up hope that the partner would stop drinking, women ended the relationship. Finally, after leaving the abuser, women attempted to reset normal around drinking behaviour but continued to experience trauma associated with others' drinking in social settings.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

For women who have experienced partners' alcohol use intertwined with violence in their relationship, changing their partners' drinking plays a central role in their journey to safety, possibly obscuring recognition of abuse and complicating their ability to leave. Greater understanding of the stages of the alcohol-IPV relationship can help health providers support women as they navigate these complex relationships, and provide appropriate support depending on the needs of women in their relationship trajectory.

Perpetration of Alcohol-Related Aggression by Male and Female College Students: An Examination of Overt and Relational Aggression

Existing literature exemplifies the relationship between alcohol and overt aggression, especially for adult males. Less clear is the relationship between alcohol and aggression among male and female college students, in particular, the nature of this aggression and the co-occurrence of drinking and aggression on the same day (temporal proximity). This study examines the chronic and temporal nature of males' and females' alcohol-related aggression among college students. Two hundred fourteen students completed a web-based 7-day event-level survey measuring alcohol consumption and perpetration of physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and relational aggression over 4 weeks, resulting in 4,256 observations (days). The global analysis revealed students who are heavy drinkers are more likely to perpetrate all four forms of aggression, whereas the event-level analysis revealed that specific forms of aggression are associated with drinking at the time, while other forms were not linked to drinking occasions. Cross-tabulation revealed males and females were more likely to use verbal and physical aggression when drinking. For females, drinking was also associated with relational aggression and anger. Despite often being overlooked in research on aggression during emerging adulthood, relational aggression was prevalent. Discrepancies between the global and temporal analysis revealed factors other than alcohol might explain the relationship between chronic alcohol consumption and specific forms of aggression. This is one of the first event-level studies to show the temporal relationship between alcohol and relational aggression. The distinctions in the current study, exemplifying the diversity of alcohol-related aggression, are critical for understanding aggressive behavior, potential gender differences, and for developing interventions. The temporal relationship between alcohol and aggression suggests health interventions should target drinking and aggression simultaneously.

Attitudes toward disabilities among students in college settings: A multidimensional scaling analysis with biplot

We investigated attitudes toward 10 specific groups of individuals with disabilities among students in college settings. These groups comprised major depression, substance use disorder (SUD), anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, learning disability, visual impairment, spinal cord injury, and cancer survivor. The multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis revealed a two-dimension space representing participants’ attitudes toward those disabilities. The MDS biplot further indicated higher levels of perceived dangerousness from the groups with SUD, major depression, anxiety disorder, and ASD. The hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that cluster A (SUD and major depression) was rated as having the highest level of social distance (i.e., negative attitudes). The implications for research and practice in rehabilitation counseling were discussed.

Preliminary development of a neuroimaging paradigm to examine neural correlates of relationship conflict

Social stress in the form of conflict between romantic partners is a salient correlate of substance use disorders (SUD), and also plays an integral role in SUD treatment outcomes. Neuroimaging has advanced the study of social stress on SUD etiology, course, and treatment. However, no neuroimaging paradigms have yet been developed to examine neural responses to conflict among romantic couples. In order to fill this gap in the literature, the goal of this exploratory study was to examine the preliminary feasibility of a novel relationship conflict fMRI paradigm. We compared the effects of an auditory relationship conflict versus a neutral cue on functional connectivity in corticolimbic brain regions, and the associations between neural activities and self-report ratings of relationship adjustment, substance use problems, and intimate partner violence. We also explored sex differences in neural correlates of relationship conflict versus neutral cues. Participants demonstrated increased functional connectivity between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex during the relationship conflict cue compared to the neutral cue. Intimate partner violence was associated with functional connectivity. Sex differences emerged in neural responses to the relationship conflict cue compared to the neutral cue. Collectively, the findings demonstrate preliminary validity of this novel neuroimaging paradigm for couples.

Coping and violence perpetration in a residential substance use disorder treatment sample

Background: Individuals in substance use disorder treatment report high rates of violence against partners and non-partners. There is growing interest in integrated coping-oriented treatment approaches for violence and substance use concerns, yet little is known about the relationship between specific coping responses and perpetration of partner and non-partner violence. Objective: This cross-sectional study evaluated relationships between coping responses and partner and non-partner physical assault perpetration in a substance use disorder treatment sample. Methods: Participants included 343 men (76%) and women (24%) who completed self-report survey measures of coping responses, violence perpetration, and substance use as part of screening for a randomized trial. Negative binomial regression was used to examine relationships between coping strategies and partner and non-partner violence perpetration, when accounting for substance use and demographic factors. Results: About one-third of participants reported partner violence perpetration (30%) and non-partner violence perpetration (34%). Frequency of partner violence and non-partner violence were both associated with more use of avoidant and emotion-focused strategies and less use of problem-focused coping in adjusted models. Discussion: Continued research is warranted to determine whether coping-oriented interventions decrease violence among people in substance use disorder treatment.

A Study of Violence Among Hong Kong Young Adults and Associated Substance Use, Risky Sexual Behaviors, and Pregnancy

This study aimed to estimate the self-reported prevalence of violence perpetration and victimization among Hong Kong youths and the associated health risk behaviors using a representative sample of 1,126 young adults aged 18-27 years. Perpetrating physical and emotional violence was common in Hong Kong, with prevalences ranging from 20.8% to 38.3% in males and from 6.4% to 21.3% in females. Victimization of physical and emotional violence was also common for both sexes, with prevalences ranging from 16.4% to 36.3% in males and from 6.6% to 19.2% in females. Perpetration of sexual harassment and sexual violence was less prevalent, whereas victimization of sexual harassment and sexual violence ranged from 0.6% to 3.6% in males and from 2.3% to 13.2% in females. Both violence perpetration and victimization among youths were significantly associated with substance use, risky sexual behaviors, and pregnancy. The implications of this study for violence prevention programs are discussed.

Partner Violence During Adolescence and Young Adulthood: Individual and Relationship Level Risk Factors

Violence within romantic relationships is a significant public health concern. Previous research largely explores partner violence at one or two time points, and often examines a limited set of risk factors. The present study explored both individual and relationship-level risk factors and their associations with physical victimization and perpetration across more than 10 years using a community sample of 200 participants (50 % female; M age Wave 1 = 15.8). Additionally, we explored the effects of previous partner violence on the likelihood of future partner violence. Survival analysis indicated that externalizing symptoms and negative interactions (e.g., relationship conflict) were associated with both perpetration and victimization. Reporting an experience of partner violence did not significantly alter an individual's risk of future partner violence. Overall, men were significantly more likely to report victimization; perpetration rates did not vary by gender. The results highlight the importance of examining multiple levels of risk.

Patterns of Substance Use Across the First Year of College and Associated Risk Factors

Starting college is a major life transition. This study aims to characterize patterns of substance use across a variety of substances across the first year of college and identify associated factors. We used data from the first cohort (N = 2056, 1240 females) of the "Spit for Science" sample, a study of incoming freshmen at a large urban university. Latent transition analysis was applied to alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other illicit drug uses measured at the beginning of the fall semester and midway through the spring semester. Covariates across multiple domains - including personality, drinking motivations and expectancy, high school delinquency, peer deviance, stressful events, and symptoms of depression and anxiety - were included to predict the patterns of substance use and transitions between patterns across the first year. At both the fall and spring semesters, we identified three subgroups of participants with patterns of substance use characterized as: (1) use of all four substances; (2) alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use; and (3) overall low substance use. Patterns of substance use were highly stable across the first year of college: most students maintained their class membership from fall to spring, with just 7% of participants in the initial low substance users transitioning to spring alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis users. Most of the included covariates were predictive of the initial pattern of use, but covariates related to experiences across the first year of college were more predictive of the transition from the low to alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis user groups. Our results suggest that while there is an overall increase in alcohol use across all students, college students largely maintain their patterns of substance use across the first year. Risk factors experienced during the first year may be effective targets for preventing increases in substance use.

Substance Use and Physical Dating Violence: The Role of Contextual Moderators

INTRODUCTION

Theoretic models suggest that associations between substance use and dating violence perpetration may vary in different social contexts, but few studies have examined this proposition. The current study examined whether social control and violence in the neighborhood, peer, and family contexts moderate the associations between substance use (heavy alcohol use, marijuana, and hard drug use) and adolescent physical dating violence perpetration.

METHODS

Adolescents in the eighth, ninth, and tenth grades completed questionnaires in 2004 and again four more times until 2007 when they were in the tenth, 11th, and 12th grades. Multilevel analysis was used to examine interactions between each substance and measures of neighborhood, peer, and family social control and violence as within-person (time-varying) predictors of physical dating violence perpetration across eighth through 12th grade (N=2,455). Analyses were conducted in 2014.

RESULTS

Physical dating violence perpetration increased at time points when heavy alcohol and hard drug use were elevated; these associations were weaker when neighborhood social control was higher and stronger when family violence was higher. Also, the association between heavy alcohol use and physical dating violence perpetration was weaker when teens had more-prosocial peer networks and stronger when teens' peers reported more physical dating violence.

CONCLUSIONS

Linkages between substance use and physical dating violence perpetration depend on substance use type and levels of contextual violence and social control. Prevention programs that address substance use-related dating violence should consider the role of social contextual variables that may condition risk by influencing adolescents' aggression propensity.

A Life Course Model of Self-Reported Violence Exposure and Ill-health with A Public Health Problem Perspective

Violence has probably always been part of the human experience. Its impact can be seen, in various forms, in all parts of the world. In 1996, WHO:s Forty-Ninth World Health Assembly adopted a resolution, declaring violence a major and growing public health problem around the world. Public health work centers around health promotion and disease prevention activities in the population and public health is an expression of the health status of the population taking into account both the level and the distribution of health. Exposure to violence can have many aspects, differing throughout the life course ― deprivation of autonomy, financial exploitation, psychological and physical neglect or abuse — but all types share common characteristics: the use of destructive force to control others by depriving them of safety, freedom, health and, in too many instances, life; the epidemic proportions of the problem, particularly among vulnerable groups; a devastating impact on individuals, families, neighborhoods, communities, and society. There is considerable evidence that stressful early life events influence a variety of physical and/or psychological health problems later in life. Childhood adversity has been linked to elevated rates of morbidity and mortality from number of chronic diseases. A model outlining potential biobehavioural pathways is put forward that may be a potential explanation of how exposure to violence among both men and women work as an important risk factor for ill health and should receive greater attention in public health work.

History of dating violence and the association with late adolescent health

BACKGROUND

The present investigation expands upon prior studies by examining the relationship between health in late adolescence and the experience of physical/sexual and non-physical dating violence victimization, including dating violence types that are relevant to today's adolescents (e.g., harassment via email and text messaging). We examined the relationship between physical/sexual and non-physical dating violence victimization from age 13 to 19 and health in late adolescence/early adulthood.

METHODS

The sample comprised 585 subjects (ages 18 to 21; mean age, 19.8, SD = 1.0) recruited from The Ohio State University who completed an online survey to assess: 1) current health (depression, disordered eating, binge drinking, smoking, and frequent sexual behavior); and 2) dating violence victimization from age 13 to 19 (retrospectively assessed using eight questions covering physical, sexual, and non-physical abuse, including technology-related abuse involving stalking/harassment via text messaging and email). Multivariable models compared health indicators in never-exposed subjects to those exposed to physical/sexual or non-physical dating violence only. The multivariable models were adjusted for age and other non-dating abuse victimization (bullying; punched, kicked, choked by a parent/guardian; touched in a sexual place, forced to touch someone sexually).

RESULTS

In adjusted analyses, compared to non-exposed females, females with physical/sexual dating violence victimization were at increased risk of smoking (prevalence ratio = 3.95); depressive symptoms (down/hopeless, PR = 2.00; lost interest, PR = 1.79); eating disorders (using diet aids, PR = 1.98; fasting, PR = 4.71; vomiting to lose weight, PR = 4.33); and frequent sexual behavior (5+ intercourse and oral sex partners, PR = 2.49, PR = 2.02; having anal sex, PR = 2.82). Compared to non-exposed females, females with non-physical dating violence only were at increased risk of smoking (PR = 3.61), depressive symptoms (down/hopeless, PR = 1.41; lost interest, PR = 1.36), eating disorders (fasting, PR = 3.37; vomiting, PR = 2.66), having 5+ intercourse partners (PR = 2.20), and having anal sex (PR = 2.18). For males, no health differences were observed for those experiencing physical/sexual dating violence compared to those who did not. Compared to non-exposed males, males with non-physical dating violence only were at increased risk of smoking (PR = 3.91) and disordered eating (fasting, using diet aids, vomiting, PR = 2.93).

CONCLUSIONS

For females, more pronounced adverse health was observed for those exposed to physical/sexual versus non-physical dating violence. For both females and males, non-physical dating violence victimization contributed to poor health.