How Alcohol Affects Sexual Assaults and Survivors’ Experiences

What is it about?

Alcohol often plays a role in sexual assaults, but its involvement can shape the attack and its aftermath in unique ways. This study examined incidents where alcohol was involved—either because the survivor had been drinking, the perpetrator had been drinking, or both. The researchers compared these cases to assaults in which alcohol was not involved to see how they differed in circumstances, victim and perpetrator behaviors, and emotional and psychological impact on survivors. Assaults prior to which the perpetrator only was drinking were characterized by more physical violence and their victims reported greater perceptions that their lives were in danger at the time of the assault and more post-assault upset. Victims of perpetrator-only drinking-related assaults reported significantly less behavioral self-blame than victims of non-alcohol-related assaults, and disclosed to more support sources, both formal and informal, compared to women in either other group. In addition, victims of perpetrator-only drinking assaults were less likely to delay seeking treatment than other victims. Survivors who had also been drinking prior to being assaulted were often blamed more by themselves. While the psychological harm was serious in both alcohol-related and non-alcohol-related assaults, the stigma and self-blame in alcohol-involved cases could make recovery even harder.

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Photo by Zachary Kadolph on Unsplash

Photo by Zachary Kadolph on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The study highlights distinct features of alcohol-related sexual assaults, including the social contexts in which they occur and the heightened risk of victim-blaming. These findings point to the need for prevention programs that address alcohol’s role in sexual violence, as well as support services that counteract stigma and self-blame. Understanding these dynamics can help reduce barriers to reporting and improve recovery for survivors.