Date of Award
2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Psychology
Specialization
Clinical Psychology
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Nicole Weiss
Abstract
Intimate partner violence is highly prevalent, with approximately 1 in 2 women reporting experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) at some point in their lifetime. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is etiologically tied to trauma -- including experiences of IPV --and is associated with drug use-related harm. Women of color experience higher rates of IPV, PTSD, and drug use-related harm compared to their white counterparts; however, a dearth of research has been conducted on the relation between PTSD symptoms and drug use-related harm among women of color experiencing IPV. Moreover, a dearth of research has identified factors that may ameliorate the association between PTSD symptoms and drug use-related harm. To advance this research, this study investigated the role of ethnic-racial identity (i.e., cognitive and affective dimensions that capture one’s sense of belonging and emotions about their ethnic-racial group) as a moderator in the relation between PTSD symptoms and drug use-related harm. Participants were 103 women of color currently experiencing IPV who were recruited from the community. The affirmation component of ethnic-racial identity moderated the relation between PTSD symptoms and drug use-related harm (B = -0.015, p = .02), such that PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with drug use-related harm at higher (b = 0.099, p = .003), but not lower (b = 0.0113, p = .521), levels of ethnic-racial identity affirmation. No moderating effects were detected for the ethnic-racial identity exploration and resolution. Results of this study suggest that bolstering the ethnic-racial identity component of affirmation among women of color who experience IPV may attenuate the relation between PTSD symptoms and drug use-related harm.
Recommended Citation
Ferguson, Jewelia J., "POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS AND DRUG USE: ETHNIC-RACIAL IDENTITY AS A MODERATOR FOR WOMEN OF COLOR ENDURING PARTNER VIOLENCE" (2024). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2555.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2555
