Project Summary
The objective of the proposed study is to examine the bidirectional associations between alcohol use and
intimate partner violence (IPV) during the developmental period from adolescence to young adulthood, when
both alcohol use and IPV peak. Furthermore, the developmental period from adolescence to young adulthood
often brings mental health challenges, such as symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress, which can
coincide with alcohol use and IPV. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the bidirectional associations
between alcohol use and IPV across eleven years from adolescence (age 15) to young adulthood (age 26),
and whether symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress moderate the relationship between alcohol use
and IPV. To date, studies examining the bidirectional associations between alcohol use and IPV have not been
situated during this critical developmental period. Therefore, the current proposal can provide critical
information on timing and vulnerability factors (e.g., depression or post-traumatic stress symptoms) to inform
alcohol-related IPV prevention and intervention efforts. Furthermore, research is lacking on how the
relationship between alcohol use and IPV may differ as a function of sex assigned at birth, race, and ethnicity,
despite some evidence that patterns of alcohol use and IPV differ amongst these groups. Thus, the current
proposal will explore differences in the relationship between alcohol use and IPV as a function of intersecting
demographic identities. This project will inform future research aimed at designing culturally-affirming IPV
prevention and intervention programs.
