Running head: PROBLEM STATEMENT AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS Problem Statement and Research Questions Sherniqwa Gilliland Winthrop University 1 PROBLEM STATEMENT AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS 2 Sexual Revictimization and Alcohol and Substance Use Victims of sexual abuse experience a lot of trauma and sometimes engage in alcohol and substance use. In this problem statement, the impacts of sexual revictimization and its correlation with substance abuse will be discussed. This problem statement will also include a connection between the social problem and social work and the following key concepts: sexual revictimization, mental health (mostly PTSD), and drug use and abuse. The research questions posed for this problem statement are, What are the behavioral negative impacts of sexual assault revictimization? Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) directly related alcohol and drug use of sexual assault victims? Social Problem There are many negative effects of sexual abuse that include PTSD, alcohol and drug use, decrease in academic performance, and so many other negative impacts. Alcohol and drug use are very prevalent in today’s society, but according to Walsh, : “Rape victims report higher prevalence of public health problems including drug and alcohol use, abuse, and dependence compared to non-victims (Burnam et al., 1988, Kilpatrick et al., 2007, Kilpatrick et al., 2000, Kilpatrick et al., 2003).” Overtime there has been a connection made between sexual abuse victims and PTSD, but there is also a connection between victims who have been revictimized, PSTD, and alcohol and drug use. Walsh states: “Furthermore, although coping with increased distress associated with experiencing multiple rapes is one potential explanation for elevated substance use among revictimized women, and revictimized women report more distress such as PTSD relative to single and non-victims (Walsh et al., 2012b), it also is possible that heightened use among revictimized women reflects use prior to the most recent rape.” PROBLEM STATEMENT AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS 3 Relativity to Social Work Practice This topic is important for social work practice because it has been proven that revictimized sexual assault victims are more likely to engage in alcohol and drug use. Studies have shown that sexual assault victims are likely to be victimized more than once. Sexual assault victims, and those who struggle with alcohol and drug consumption are individuals that social workers work with. The articles provided information suggesting that drug and alcohol use are used as coping mechanisms for victims and victims who have been revictimized. It was also shown that many of the victims who engage in alcohol and drug use do not self-report. This information will be important to explore with clients to get background information to know how to best service clients. There could be a client who is struggling with alcohol addiction and not reporting that they have been a victim of sexual abuse. There is not a lot of research on the topic of the impact revictimization has on a victim and the increase of the chances for the victim to engage in alcohol or substance use. It is hard to conduct studies on sexual abuse victims because of the lack of self-reporting and many ethical issues that could occur while conducting the study. Although, it is difficult to experiment, there is needs to be more research done to allow social workers to develop different practices, approaches, etc. to address things that sexual assault victims may experience. Social workers are advocates for sexual assault and are normally the first individuals to talk to the patient about more than health related issues. It is vital that social workers are aware if the victim has been revictimized, if so, do they have PTSD, and if they have engaged in alcohol and drug use so that the client are receiving the services they need. PROBLEM STATEMENT AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS 4 References Ullman, S. E. . seullman@uic. ed., Relyea, M. relyea1@uic. ed., Peter-Hagene, L. cpeter26@uic. ed., & Vasquez, A. L. . avasqu4@uic. ed. (2013). Trauma histories, substance use coping, PTSD, and problem substance use among sexual assault victims. Addictive Behaviors, 38(6), 2219–2223. https://doiorg.winthropuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.01.027 Walsh, K. klw2153@musc. ed., Resnick, H. S. ., Danielson, C. K., McCauley, J. L. ., Saunders, B. E. ., & Kilpatrick, D. G. . (2014). Patterns of drug and alcohol use associated with lifetime sexual revictimization and current posttraumatic stress disorder among three national samples of adolescent, college, and household-residing women. Addictive Behaviors, 39(3), 684–689. https://doiorg.winthropuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.12.006 Walsh, K., Messman-Moore, T., Zerubavel, N., Chandley, R. B. ., DeNardi, K. A. ., & Walker, D. P. . (2013). Perceived sexual control, sex-related alcohol expectancies and behavior predict substance-related sexual revictimization. Child Abuse & Neglect, 37(5), 353–359. https://doi-org.winthropuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2012.11.009 Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW Sexual Re-victimization and increase in the chance of alcohol and substance abuse Sherniqwa Gilliland Winthrop University 1 LITERATURE REVIEW 2 Introduction to the literature review Sexual re-victimization refers to a form of sexual abuse which is insensitive and causes fear for the victims of violence. Currently, there are many kinds of research concerning the female re-victimization of few sexual assaults, child sexual abuse, and adult sexual abuse survivors. Despite this, there is little research concerning male victimization and any form of service is available to them, this is because most attention has been shifted to females leaving men behind. Also, there is variance on the research available depending on its application in different areas. It is thus essential for the researchers to come up with another literature review that covers all forms of re-victimization in both genders. Not only should the focus be directed on the effects of alcohol abuse but also the causes of alcohol consumption. Drug abuse is a result of several factors which we should first address to prevent substance addiction and alcohol abuse. The relationship between sexual violence and substance addiction According to findings made by (Heerd & Hemphill, 2016), some of the significant initiators of addiction to alcohol, and which cause continuation in, its use is stress. It is also a significant factor that causes people to return to the use of drugs even after individuals have abstained for a period of time (Merrick et al., 2018). It has also been found that the majority of the people who report cases of sexual assaults have higher rates of disorders that are related to using of alcohol (Merrick et al., 2018). In addition to this, findings also show that about 75% of those who report cases of abuse have been found to have used alcohol at one point in their lives (Ullman 2016). It is according to the report collected by the National Center for PTSD. It has also been found that there is also a high probability of women who abuse or use alcohol to be sexually abused at one point in their lives (Ullman 2016). About 60% of women and 20% of men who undergo substance LITERATURE REVIEW 3 abuse treatment at one point may have been found to have used drugs or any other influencing substances. Men also undergo rape with their fellow men due to drug consumption; this has caused victimization in a way since it is a form of homosexuality. Not only is this a traumatic experience, but and if victim is heterosexual the likelihood of reporting abuse decreases significantly. Men being sexual assault victims have also experienced low-self esteem and lack of acceptance. The relationship between substance abuse, poverty, and violence Substance addiction paired with offending drug use is one of the significant factors that have been found to cause homelessness leading to prostitution together with economic desperation (Littleton et al., 2017). Lack of stable housing, failure to provide one’s children with safe living homes, as well as leaving an abusive relationship are some of the factors that act as barriers to long-term recovery (Littleton et al., 2017). These factors lead to a lack of ability to completely stop substance abuse, causing high rates of recidivism (Ports, Ford, & Merrick 2016). Individuals exposed to cases of poverty, substance abuse, and violence have high chances of facing sexual assault. Also, such people have high chances of having been sexually assaulted in the past (Mejía et al., 2015). According to the findings made by another researcher, about 30% of the youths who run away from their homes and who are homeless have experienced cases of homelessness in the past. These youths also are known to massively abuse substances with commonly abused substances being marijuana, alcohol, and cocaine (Ports, Ford & Merrick 2016). Substance abuse has encouraged people to prioritize the purchase of alcohol and drug substances over necessities such as food, education, and housing leading to an increase in poverty levels. Drug addiction has led to the need for rehabilitation which requires money being channeled LITERATURE REVIEW 4 to therapy sessions, training and treatment of illnesses. Substance abuse has encouraged peer influence interfering with the working of the mind and the result being violence. Majority of the cases of sexual assaults have been related to abuse of alcohol and other drugs. These drugs limit the ability of the drug users to make decisions, make the drug users to have unconsciousness as well as impairing the mind of the victim (Werner et al., 2016). Majority of the cases of sexual assaults is as a result of alcohol (Werner et al., 2016). One of the reasons that have found to make drinking the primary cause of sexual assault is because it is always readily available, it is legalized and it is socially acceptable (Werner et al., 2016). Alcohol-abusing decreases the ability of the abusers to select between what is right and what is wrong thus reducing their ability to making the right decisions (Werner et al., 2016). It also reduces the strength of the victims to resists these forms of assaults. Limitations of the literature review As stated in the introduction, most of the available research focuses on women addicted to drugs and its consequences to domestic violence, trauma together with sexual abuse. There is little research concerning men's addiction to drugs and its relation to trauma. The main reason for this may be its due to men reporting cases of sexual trauma. Another factor to consider is that researchers have failed to explore with research of men victimization and sexual violence and its relation to drug abuse. In addition to this, many of the studies carried out concerning drug addiction, and violence mainly aims at intimidating partners. There is little research that has been conducted in other forms of relationships concerning drug abuse and re-victimization. Also, majority of the data available on cases of sexual violence victims or survivors does not state whether the use of the substance had begun before the assault taking place or if it was a response to the crime. There are a lot of questions that have remained LITERATURE REVIEW 5 unanswered on cases of sexual assault on some vulnerable population with these including racial, linguistic minorities, ethics groups as well as people with disabilities. There is a need for more research to be carried out on the complex relationship between drug and alcohol abuse and sexual violence in multiple oppression such as racism, ageism, heterosexism, able-ism, as well as sexism (Dir et al., 2018). There is thus need for research to focus on such aspects to bring out a clear understanding of how cases of victimizations on matters to do with drug abuser are related. Researchers have found that there is a large number of treatments and prevention that currently exist, and which are mainly based on science and also which is widely in use. Now, none of these interventions has been researched more in rural areas (Dir et al., 2018). Thus, despite this literature review that exists presently, there is still a lot that has remained unexploited as far as this research question is concerned. There has been more greed for money compared to the concern for one's health. Cheap liquor which is harmful is selling in most villages without the sellers realizing the harm they impact on people's health. Selling of drugs has been given a priority more than people being educated and reminded on the impact of the substance they are taking on their health. Conclusion From this literature review, there exists a positive correlation between substance abuse sexual re-victimization. Majority of the researches that have been carried out, in this case, shows that many of the victims of sexual assaults face this victimization either when they have abused the substances, after having been abused the substance in the past or when the family that they come from having the history of substance abuse. Alcohol abuse is the primary form of substance abuse that has been causing re-victimization; the reason for this is because it is the one which is commonly abused. LITERATURE REVIEW 6 Drug abuse should be a widely discussed topic in schools, homes, seminars, and workshops since many problems and illnesses generate from consumption of alcohol. It is thus crucial for those who are in a position to campaign against substance abuse to do it as this can help in reducing cases of social crimes and evils. Early childhood sexual violence may also provide data concerning levels of risk for consistent sexual victimization. To prevent alcohol abuse, those that cause destruction and strict punishment should be given to sexual offenders. They should serve as a lesson to others to avoid future occurrences. LITERATURE REVIEW 7 References George, W. H., Davis, K. C., Masters, N. T., Jacques-Tiura, A. J., Heiman, J. R., Norris, J., ... & Andrasik, M. P. (2014). Sexual victimization, alcohol intoxication, sexual-emotional responding, and sexual risk in heavy episodic drinking women. Archives of sexual behaviour, 43(4), 645-658. Gilmore, A. K., Lewis, M. A., & George, W. H. (2015). A randomized controlled trial was targeting alcohol use and sexual assault risk among college women at high risk for victimization. Behaviour research and therapy, 74, 38-49. Heerde, J. A., & Hemphill, S. A. (2016). Sexual risk behaviours, sexual offences, and sexual victimization among homeless youth: a systematic review of associations with substance use. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 17(5), 468-489.\ Littleton, H., Grills, A., Layh, M., & Rudolph, K. (2017). Unacknowledged Rape and ReVictimization Risk: Examination of Potential Mediators. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 41(4), 437-450. Lorenz, K., & Ullman, S. E. (2016). Alcohol and sexual assault victimization: Research findings and future directions. Aggression and violent behaviour, 31, 82-94. Mejía, B., Zea, P., Romero, M., & Saldívar, G. (2015). Traumatic experiences and re-victimization of female inmates undergoing treatment for substance abuse. Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 10(1), 1. Merrick, M. T., Basile, K. C., Zhang, X., Smith, S. G., & Kresnow, M. J. (2018). Characterizing Sexual Violence Victimization in Youth: 2012 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. American journal of preventive medicine, 54(4), 596-599. LITERATURE REVIEW 8 Ports, K. A., Ford, D. C., & Merrick, M. T. (2016). Adverse childhood experiences and sexual victimization in adulthood. Child abuse & neglect, 51, 313-322. Ullman, S. E. (2016). Sexual revictimization, PTSD, and problem drinking in sexual assault survivors. Addictive behaviours, 53, 7-10. Ullman, S. E., & Vasquez, A. L. (2015). The Mediators of sexual revictimization risk in adult sexual assault victims. Journal of child sexual abuse, 24(3), 300-314. Werner, K. B., McCutcheon, V. V., Challa, M., Agrawal, A., Lynskey, M. T., Conroy, E., ... & Heath, A. C. (2016). The association between childhood maltreatment, psychopathology, and adult sexual victimization in men and women: results from three independent samples. Psychological medicine, 46(3), 563-573. LITERATURE REVIEW 9 Building on your problem formulation, research question(s), and literature review from Assignment #2 along with feedback from me and following the Example Research Proposal in Chapter 13 of textbook, submit a 10-12 page Research Proposal (addendums not included in page count). Your Research Proposal will include the following components: a. Introduction – (2-3 paragraphs) introduce issue/problem you wish to study; explain both the importance and relevance of your topic to social work practice; and include a revised research question(s). b. Literature Review – (3 pages) update (if applicable) and fine tune your literature review to be less than three pages of Research Proposal. c. Methods – suggest a research design that would allow you to answer your research question(s); provide rationale for choosing this research design. d. Sample– describe the population and sample you would select; where and how (sampling method) you would find this sample; sample size; and inclusion/exclusion criteria. e. Instrumentation – suggest data collection method(s) that would allow you to answer your research question(s); provide rationale for choosing this data collection method(s); and include copy of instrumentation as an addendum to your Research Proposal. f. Limitations – discuss the limitations of your proposed research. g. Ethical Issues – discuss the ethical and human subject issues that relate to your proposed research. h. References – in proper APA format. i. Informed Consent – include copy of informed consent as an addendum to your Research Proposal; if appropriate. Submit a 10-12 page Research Proposal in APA format with properly cited and referenced peerreviewed journal articles and sources. Due: By 8am Wednesday, December 6th - Upload an electronic copy to Blackboard using the embedded TurnItIn feature.
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