Polydrug Use and Dating Partner Abuse Victimization Among Early Emerging Adults

Although theoretical and empirical support that substance use plays an important role in dating violence (Choi et al., 2017), with different types of substance use or poly-drug use influencing perpetratration of dating violence (Feingold, Kerr, & Capaldi, 2008), little is known about how different patterns of substance use are associated with victimization of dating violence for emerging adults. Psychological distress (e.g., depressive symptoms, PTSD) can exacerbate experience of dating violence (Ernest, et al, in press) with substance use (e.g., alcohol). Thus, this study will 1) identify latent drug use class with multiple substances (e.g., alcohol, tobacco), 2) compare experience of dating violence among these latent drug use classes, and 3) explore how psychological distress is associated with victimization of dating violence within each latent drug use class after controlling for past history of dating violence.

Methods: 698 male and female emerging adults (60% female; mean age of 19.1; 63% college students) participated at baseline (spring 2014) and at the 1-year follow-up (spring 2015). The racial/ethnic background of participants was approximately 33% Hispanic, 33% White, and 33% African American. Past year misuse of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, prescription drugs, and other hard-drugs were included in a Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to identify latent drug user classes. Symptoms of depression, PTSD, and hostility were included in the model to examine the link between mental health and dating violence within latent drug user classes. Gender, ethnicity, parental education, age, and baseline dating violence were included as covariates.

Results: We identified three latent drug use classes: 1) All Drug Users, defined as higher probabilities of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, prescription drugs, and other haurd-drugs, (14%), 2) Alcohol and Moderate Marijuana Users (30%), and Non-Drug Users (56%). The All Drug Users reported the highest dating violence victimization scores, followed by the Alcohol and Moderate Marijuana Users, and Non-Users. For participants in the All Drug User class, being White and Hispanic, and having greater PTSD symptoms were more likely to report dating violence victimization, even after controlling for previous dating violence victimization and perpetration. For those in the Alcohol and Moderate Marijuana Users class, Non-White emerging adults and having experience of dating violence were more likely to report dating violence victimization. For those in the Non-User class, previous dating violence perpetration influenced victimization.

Discussion: Emerging adults who used multiple drugs were the most likely to be victims of dating violence. Further, mental health (e.g., PTSD symptoms) appeared to influence future victimization, but this was dependent on latent drug use classes. Prevention and intervention programs should be multifaceted, promote mental health, and may benefit by targeting victims of dating violence.