Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals experience elevated rates of trauma exposure, minority stress, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, research examining ho...

Objective: Sexual assault is a prevalent public health concern linked to numerous negative health consequences, including increased alcohol use and related harm. The current cross-sectional study examined the roles of shame and emotional avoidance in the association between a history of sexual assault and alcohol use and related harm among adults receiving residential substance use treatment. Specifically, we examined whether a history of sexual assault related to alcohol use and related harm indirectly through heightened shame and greater emotional avoidance. Method: Participants were 140 adults in residential substance use treatment (M age = 40.6 years, 50.8% women, 70.0% White) who completed self-report measures assessing sexual assault, shame, emotional avoidance, and alcohol use and related harm. Results: Cross-sectional mediation analyses indicated that a history of sexual assault was indirectly associated with increased alcohol use and related harm via heightened shame and greater emotional avoidance. Conclusions: Findings suggest that interventions targeting alcohol use and related harm may benefit from reducing shame and decreasing emotional avoidance among individuals with a history of sexual assault. Public health significance statement: This study highlights how experiences of sexual assault may be associated with increased alcohol use and related problems through feelings of shame and efforts to avoid painful emotions. These findings suggest that substance use treatment programs may be more effective if they also address emotional health, particularly by helping survivors manage shame and improve emotional coping skills. This work can inform more compassionate, trauma-informed care for people in recovery.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals experience elevated rates of trauma exposure, minority stress, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, research examining ho...

Background: Survivors of sexual victimization face a critical juncture when disclosing their experiences. How others react to their disclosure can significantly influence survivors’ psychological well...

Please take 2 minutes today to ask Congress to take steps to stop funding cuts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The administration’s proposed cuts to federal research funding, particularly ...