Alcohol-Involved Assault and Trauma Cue Reactivity in College Students

Alcohol-involved sexual assault (i.e., AIA; sexual assault after consuming alcohol), compared to a non-AIA (i.e., non-AIA; sexual assault without alcohol intoxication), is associated with worse alcohol and trauma-related outcomes, including greater positive alcohol expectancies, alcohol use, coping-oriented drinking motives, and PTSD symptoms. Available animal research supports the notion that alcohol consumption alters fear conditioning and other learning processes, which might account for differences in affective and alcohol-related outcomes between AIA and non-AIA. However, no human laboratory studies to our knowledge have examined conditioned affective responses (i.e., subjective distress and negative affect) and alcohol responses (i.e., craving) as a function of AIA versus non-AIA traumatic memories. The primary aim of the current study was to examine the influence of AIA, compared to non-AIA, on patterns of affective responses (i.e., negative affect, subjective distress) in response to personalized trauma and alcohol cues in a sample of college students with a history of sexual assault. The secondary aim of the current study was to examine the influence of AIA, compared to non-AIA, on subjective craving to trauma and alcohol cues. Participants were 34 college students (67% women; 42% students of color) endorsing sexual assault who participated in a NIAAA-funded study of trauma and alcohol cue reactivity. Forward-fitted linear mixed-effects models and T-tests were conducted to determine differences in baseline and laboratory responses based on AIA status. Individuals endorsing AIA, compared to non-AIA, reported increased past month alcohol consumption, past month binge drinking days, and AUDIT total scores. No other significant baseline differences emerged (ps > .05). The interaction between AIA status and narrative cue was not significantly related to subjective distress, negative affect, or craving. The interaction between AIA status and beverage cue was not significantly related to subjective distress or negative affect. However, the moderating role of AIA in the association between beverage cue and craving was evaluated and results indicate a significant association related to craving, such that participants who endorsed an AIA reported significantly increased levels of craving when presented with the alcohol cue, compared to the neutral cue. No significant differences in reported craving between the alcohol and neutral cue emerged for participants endorsing a non-AIA index. College students that endorse an AIA, compared to non-AIA, may be at risk for increased alcohol consumption (i.e., past month alcohol use, binge drinking) and alcohol craving.