College students’ perceptions of alcohol’s role in disclosures of sexual assault and intimate partner violence

Authors

Emily A. Waterman, Bennington CollegeFollow
Lindsey M. Rodriguez, Meta, St. Petersburg, Florida
Sarah E. Ullman, University of Illinois ChicagoFollow
Emily R. Dworkin, University of Washington School of MedicineFollow
Katie Edwards, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

ORCID IDs

Emily A. Waterman http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6214-223X

Lindsey M. Rodriguez http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7594-3546

Sarah E. Ullman http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9530-5389

Emily R. Dworkin http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3704-5339

Katie M. Edwards http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1888-7386

Christina M. Dardis http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8855-2077

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2023

Citation

Published in Journal of American College Health, 2023

doi:10.1080/07448481.2023.2214239

Comments

Copyright © 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC . Used by permission.

Abstract

Objective: Much is known about how alcohol increases the risk of sexual assault or intimate partner violence victimization during college. This research qualitatively explores perceptions about how alcohol influences disclosures about these events to informal supports.

Participants: Participants included college students who received a disclosure wherein they or the survivor were drinking during the disclosure (n = 81).

Methods: Responses were coded with regard to who was drinking and whether the effect of drinking during the disclosure was perceived as positive, negative, mixed, or neutral/none.

Results: Participants perceived alcohol to have both positive (e.g., increasing the likelihood of discussing difficult topics) and negative (e.g., cognitive impairment increased negative emotions) effects on disclosures.

Conclusion: Prevention and intervention efforts should identify targeted strategies (e.g., remembering one or two easy and helpful phrases; revisiting the topic again while sober) to help survivors and disclosure recipients have constructive conversations in the presence of alcohol.