Psychosocial Mediators Between Intimate Partner Violence and Alcohol Abuse in Low-Income African American Women

Violence Against Women. 2020 Jul;26(9):915-934. doi: 10.1177/1077801219850331. Epub 2019 Jun 10.

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure can increase alcohol use. Although African Americans use less alcohol compared with European Americans, African American women experience disparate rates of IPV, potentially intensifying their alcohol abuse. We used data from 171 African American women to test if IPV was related to alcohol abuse and if psychosocial factors-loneliness, embarrassment, fear of harm, hope, social support, childcare needs, and finances-mediated this link. IPV and alcohol abuse were related, and several factors were related to either IPV or alcohol abuse. Social support was related to both, and it mediated the IPV-alcohol abuse link, explaining women's alcohol abuse relating to IPV.

Keywords: African American women; alcohol abuse; intimate partner violence; mediation analysis; psychosocial factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Alcoholism / psychology*
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Embarrassment
  • Fear
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intimate Partner Violence / psychology*
  • Intimate Partner Violence / statistics & numerical data
  • Loneliness
  • Middle Aged
  • Poverty
  • Risk Factors
  • Social Support
  • Spouse Abuse / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult