The Role of Sex-Related Alcohol Expectancies in Alcohol-Involved Consensual and Nonconsensual Sex Among Women of Asian/Pacific Islander and Women of European Race/Ethnicity

Abstract

Alcohol-involved sexual experiences, including incapacitated sexual assault and alcohol-involved sex, are major public health concerns among college women. Further, racial/ethnic diversity among college students is increasing, particularly with regard to increases in college students of Asian/Pacific Islander race/ethnicity. Of relevance, evidence suggests differences in sexual assault rates across ethnicities and cultures; however, no known study to date has examined differences by ethnicity and first language in expectancies and experiences specifically surrounding alcohol and sex. The current study sought to examine differences in incapacitated sexual assault, alcohol-involved sex, and heavy episodic drinking, as well as differences in sex-related alcohol expectancies among native English-speaking college women of European (EU) race/ethnicity, native English-speaking women of API race/ethnicity, and non-native English-speaking women of API race/ethnicity (NNES-API). EU reported higher frequency of heavy episodic drinking, alcohol-involved sex, and incapacitated sexual assault compared to API and NNES-API. Additionally, API reported more frequent alcohol-involved sex and incapacitated sexual assault compared to NNES-API, in part due to API’s stronger endorsement of sexual disinhibition-related alcohol expectancies (indirect effects: β = −.04, p = .04 and β = −.07, p = .04, respectively). Findings highlight the important role of expectancies in acculturation and influence on actual alcohol-involved sex and sexual assault.

Non-Partner Sexual Violence Among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Adults: A Scoping Review

“…Among a sample of Thai and Vietnamese women who work in massage parlors ( n = 43), lack of legal documentation and sex work history was associated with non-partner sexual violence (Nemoto et al, 2004). Dir et al (2018) used native language as a proxy for acculturation and found that non-native English speakers experienced a lower rate of sexual assault in which the victim was physically incapacitated compared to native English speakers (Dir et al, 2018). First generation Japanese immigrants experienced sexual violence (i.e., unwanted touching, sexual assault, stalking, exhibitionism, obscene phone calls, and voyeurism) at a higher prevalence compared to 1.5 (foreign-born but grew up in United States) or higher generation individuals (Yoshihama, 2001a).…”

“…In total, 16 articles discussed various cross-sectional factors (i.e., no temporal relationships were assessed) associated with non-partner sexual violence (N. T. Buchanan et al, 2009; Buchanan et al, 2018; Crisanti et al, 2011; Devries et al, 2011; Dir et al, 2018; Hahm et al, 2012, 2017; Jewkes, Jama-Shai, & Sikweyiya, 2017; Kelly-Hanku et al, 2015; McLaughlin et al, 2019; Nemoto et al, 2004; Nguyen et al, 2010; Nusbaum et al, 2005; Pape et al, 2016; Tummala-Narra et al, 2019; Yoshihama, 2001a). Articles were mostly quantitative.…”

“…Specifically, two studies reported that the lifetime prevalence of rape (2.96%), sexual assault (7.98%), and stalking (5.37%) were lowest among AA women compared to African Americans, Whites, and Latinas (McLaughlin et al, 2019; Urquiza & Goodlin-Jones, 1994). In college-based samples, 4% of AA women reported a lifetime history of sexual assault in which the victim was physically incapacitated (e.g., due to alcohol consumption) compared to 11% of White women, and 34% of AA students reported at least one sexual harassment experience compared to 39% of White students (Dir et al, 2018; Kalof et al, 2001). In addition, AA college students reported substantial sexual harassment including unwanted gender-based harassment (32.8%), unwanted sexual attention (10.9%), and sexual coercion (3.2%); overall sexual harassment among AA students was 33%, which was the second highest after White students (Kalof et al, 2001).…”

“…Our review found 22 studies on the prevalence of non-partner sexual violence among AANHPIs (Blaisdell-Brennan & Goebert, 2001; Buchanan et al, 2018; Crisanti et al, 2011; Dibble et al, 2007; Dir et al, 2018; Foynes et al, 2014; Hahm et al, 2017, 2012; Ho et al, 2018; Jewkes et al, 2013; Jewkes, Fulu, et al, 2017; Jewkes, Jama-Shai, & Sikweyiya, 2017; Kalof et al, 2001; Lokuge et al, 2016; McLaughlin et al, 2019; Mills & Granoff, 1992; Morris & Balsam, 2003; Roberts et al, 2011; Urquiza & Goodlin-Jones, 1994; Vang & Bogenschutz, 2014; Yoshihama, 2001b; Yoshihama & Horrocks, 2005). A majority of the studies assessed lifetime sexual violence by asking respondents about their history of different types of sexual harassment and sexual assault.…”

“…Few studies discussed relationships between non-partner sexual violence and substance use. Prevalence of rape in which the victim was physically incapacitated was associated with heavy drinking and higher frequency of alcohol-related consequences, such as negative impact on functioning and feeling of shame (Dir et al, 2018; Nguyen et al, 2010). Higher prevalence of rape in which the victim was physically incapacitated was also associated with holding more beliefs about alcohol’s ability to lower sexual inhibitions (Dir et al, 2018).…”