Abstract

OBJECTIVE
South Africa has high rates of traumatic experiences and alcohol abuse or dependence, especially among women. Traumatic experiences often result in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and PTSD has been associated with hazardous drinking. This article examines the relationship between traumatic events and hazardous drinking among women who patronized alcohol-serving venues in South Africa and examines PTSD as a mediator of this relationship.
METHOD
A total of 560 women were recruited from a Cape Town township. They completed a computerized assessment that included alcohol consumption, history of traumatic events, and PTSD symptoms. Mediation analysis examined whether PTSD symptoms mediated the relationship between the number of traumatic event categories experienced (range: 0-7) and drinking behavior.
RESULTS
The mean Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score in the sample was 12.15 (range: 0-34, SD = 7.3), with 70.9% reaching criteria for hazardous drinking (AUDIT > 8). The mean PTSD score was 36.32 (range: 17-85, SD = 16.3),with 20.9% meeting symptom criteria for PTSD (PTSD Checklist with 20.9% meeting symptom criteria for PTSD (PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version ≥ 50). Endorsement of traumatic experiences was high, including adult emotional (51.8%), physical (49.6%), and sexual (26.3%) abuse; childhood physical (35.0%) and sexual (25.9%) abuse; and other types of trauma (83%). All categories of traumatic experiences, except the "other" category, were associated with hazardous drinking. PTSD symptoms mediated 46% of the relationship between the number of traumatic categories experienced and drinking behavior.
CONCLUSIONS
Women reported high rates of hazardous drinking and high levels of PTSD symptoms, and most had some history of traumatic events. There was a strong relationship between traumatic exposure and drinking levels, which was largely mediated by PTSD symptoms. Substance use interventions should address histories of trauma in this population, where alcohol may be used in part to cope with past traumas.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Watt MH, Ranby KW, Meade CS, Sikkema KJ, MacFarlane JC, Skinner D, Pieterse D, Kalichman SC

Institution

Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. melissa.watt@duke.edu

Source

Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs 73:4 2012 Jul pg 549-58

MeSH

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Alcohol Drinking
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholism
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Food Services
Humans
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Severity of Illness Index
Sex Offenses
South Africa
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Stress, Psychological
Suburban Health
Violence
Wounds and Injuries
Young Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22630793