1. DATING VIOLENCE VICTIMIZATION AND ALCOHOL USE: CROSS-LAGGED EFFECTS Cynthia A. Stappenbeck, M.A., and Kim Fromme, Ph.D. The University of Texas at Austin Abstract Twenty-one percent of dating couples report physical aggression in the previous year and a link between alcohol and interpersonal violence is well established. Few studies, however, have investigated the relation between alcohol and dating violence victimization (DVV) over time. The purpose of the current study was to examine the possible reciprocal effects of alcohol use and DVV across the first three semesters of college (Times 1-3). Participants (N = 253; 69% female) who reported being a victim of physical dating violence also completed a measure of typical weekly alcohol use as part of a larger longitudinal study. After controlling for the effects of gender, structural equation modeling revealed a stable positive association of alcohol use at all time periods, as well as DVV between Times 1 and 2. Being a victim of dating violence at Time 2 was related to heavier drinking during the same time period, whereas DVV at Time 2 was associated with lower alcohol use at Time 3. Concurrent heavy alcohol use and victimization suggest that alcohol may have contributed to the victimization, whereas a decrease in drinking several months after being victimized may represent an attempt at behavioral regulation to decrease risk. These results demonstrate the complexity of the relation between alcohol and DVV and provide implications for future interventions. Introduction Rates of physical aggression among dating couples are extremely high. As many as one in three college couples experience at least one incident of dating violence, and 21% report physical aggression in their dating relationships in the previous year. Additionally, victims of partner violence experience a myriad of negative outcomes such as physical injuries, and mental health problems including depression and anxiety. Alcohol has been related to interpersonal violence in general, and partner violence more specifically. Heavier drinking has been associated with dating violence, although many studies only investigate the perpetrator’s alcohol use. Additionally, the reciprocal effects of alcohol use and dating violence victimization are unknown. There is little longitudinal research on dating violence, but those studies conclude that physical aggression among dating partners is stable over a 3-month period. Adolescents who had already been a victim of dating violence were more likely to suffer continued, and even more severe, victimization in the future. Moreover, aggression during dating relationships may extend into future intimate and marital relationships. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the stability of dating violence victimization (DVV) and alcohol use over time and examine the reciprocal effects of alcohol use and DVV. Method Participants and Procedures Participants were drawn from a larger longitudinal study (“The UT Experience!”) and at the time of recruitment, they were first time college freshmen, between the ages of 17 and 19, and unmarried. Eligible participants were randomized to a semi-annual assessment condition (N = 3,046), with 2,245 (73.7%; 60% female) providing informed consent and completing the initial survey. These participants were invited to complete web-based surveys at the end of each semester, including information about alcohol use and dating violence over the 3-months prior to each survey. Participants were paid $20 for fall and $25 for spring surveys. Measures Demographics. Participants provided information on their age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Dating violence. The frequency of minor and severe physical aggression with a dating partner was assessed using the Conflict Tactics Scale and rated on 7-point scales (0 = never, 1 = once, 2 = twice, 3 = 3-5, 4 = 6-10, 5 = 11-20, 6 = 20 or more; Straus, Hamby, Boney- McCoy, & Sugarman, 1996). Participants were then asked how often the incidents were initiated by their partner using a 5-point scale (0 = never, 1 = rarely, 2 = sometimes, 3 = often, 4 = always). Participants were considered a victim if they responded ‘sometimes,’ ‘often,’ or ‘always.’ Alcohol use. The Daily Drinking Questionnaire (DDQ; Collins, Parks, and Marlatt, 1985) was used to assess average alcohol use. Figure 1. Average alcohol use over time. Fall FreshmanSpring FreshmanFall Sophomore Figure 2. Average dating violence victimization over time. Fall FreshmanSpring FreshmanFall Sophomore Figure 3. Cross-lagged SEM model. Fall Freshman Spring FreshmanFall Sophomore Results Of the longitudinal sample, 11% (n = 253; 69% female) reported being a victim of physical dating violence during at least one of the first 3 semesters of college (fall and spring of freshmen year, and fall of sophomore year). This subsample comprises 69% women compared to 60% women for the entire sample. The ethnic make-up of the participants was 50% White, 17% Asian, 22% Hispanic, and 11% multiracial or other ethnicity, which is similar to the ethnic distribution of the longitudinal sample. Men and women’s average alcohol use and DVV for Times 1- 3 are shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. For those individuals who were a victim of dating violence, a structural equation model tested the cross-lagged effects of DVV and alcohol use over time after controlling for sex. Despite a significant chi-square χ2 = 391.645, df = 18, p <.001 (which was likely attributable to large sample size, Kline, 2005), the model had good fit indices; CFI =.99; TLI =.99; RMSEA =.025. As shown in Figure 3, a significant positive association between alcohol use at each time, as well as DVV between Times 1 and 2 was found indicating stable relations between these time periods. There was also a positive relation at Time 2 between alcohol use and DVV such that being a victim of dating violence was related to heavier drinking during the same time period. Additionally, a significant negative association between Time 2 dating violence and Time 3 alcohol use indicated that individuals who were victims of dating violence at Time 2 reported less alcohol use the next semester. Discussion Current findings indicate that alcohol consumption was relatively stable over a 15-month period. Being a victim of dating violence was stable over a 9 month period; women, however, experienced more victimization during Time 3. The association between alcohol use and victimization over the same time period suggests that heavy alcohol consumption may have contributed to the victimization. Heavier drinking individuals may be in situations more often where alcohol and aggression are likely to occur (e.g., bar, parties), or may have partners that also drink heavily (and therefore may perpetrate aggression). It should be noted, however, that only 8-16% of our sample indicated that the incident was always initiated by their partner at each time period, suggesting that participants also perpetrated dating violence. Alcohol use may have been associated with the occasions in which they perpetrated dating violence. Lastly, the occurrence of victimization at one time was associated with a decrease in drinking several months later. In addition to the possibility that people select out of aggressive relationships, this finding may indicate an attempt at behavioral regulation to decrease risk of DVV. Current results demonstrate the complexity of the relation between alcohol and dating violence and provide implications for future interventions. Clearly individuals should be encouraged to end aggressive relationships as those with a history of dating aggression are at risk for future aggression, and should be targeted for intervention programs. Interventions should also aim to decrease overall alcohol consumption, and should not overlook the particular needs of male victims. Although more women reported victimization, men were still highly represented in this sample. Men may be less likely to seek help or treatment for their dating violence victimization, but are nevertheless in need of assistance. Programs, therefore, should be implemented in schools, campuses, and community settings that will likely reach these affected individuals. Acknowledgments This research was supported by grants from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01-AA013967; Kim Fromme, PI; 5T32-AA07471; Reuben Gonzalez, PI), and the Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research. The authors would like to thank Heather Brister, B.S., Marc I. Kruse, M.A., Amee Patel, M.A., M.S.Ed., Reagan Wetherill, and the SAHARA lab research assistants for their contribution to this research. Time 1Time 2Time 3 Alcohol Use.76***.77*** DVV 1.481.12*1.26.01.17 -0.72*.15*.10