Emotional Distress, Alcohol Use, and Bidirectional Partner Violence Among Lesbian Women

This study examined the relationship between emotional distress (defined as depression, brooding, and negative affect), alcohol outcomes, and bidirectional intimate partner violence among lesbian women. Results lend support to the self-medication hypothesis, which predicts that lesbian women who exp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Violence against women 2015-08, Vol.21 (8), p.917-938
Main Authors: Lewis, Robin J., Padilla, Miguel A., Milletich, Robert J., Kelley, Michelle L., Winstead, Barbara A., Lau-Barraco, Cathy, Mason, Tyler B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Adult
Affect
Alcohol Drinking
Alcohol use
Alcohol-Related Disorders - complications
Alcoholism - complications
Depression - complications
Domestic Violence
Drunkenness
Emotional disorders
Ethanol
Female
Gays & lesbians
Homosexuality, Female
Humans
Intimate Partner Violence
Risk Factors
Sexual Partners
Spouse Abuse
Stress, Psychological - complications
Womens health
Young Adult
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Summary:This study examined the relationship between emotional distress (defined as depression, brooding, and negative affect), alcohol outcomes, and bidirectional intimate partner violence among lesbian women. Results lend support to the self-medication hypothesis, which predicts that lesbian women who experience more emotional distress are more likely to drink to cope, and in turn report more alcohol use, problem drinking, and alcohol-related problems. These alcohol outcomes were, in turn, associated with bidirectional partner violence (BPV). These results offer preliminary evidence that, similar to findings for heterosexual women, emotional distress, alcohol use, and particularly, alcohol-related problems are risk factors for BPV among lesbian women.
ISSN:1077-8012
1552-8448
DOI:10.1177/1077801215589375