Being the victim of violence during a date predicts next‐day cannabis use among female college students

Aims To determine whether being the victim of violence during a date among female college students on any given day predicted cannabis and alcohol use the following day. Design, Setting and Participants Between August 2010 and January 2013, we conducted a 90‐day daily diary study with 174 females who were in current dating relationships from a large university in the Southeastern United States. The mean age of the sample was 18.70 years [standard deviation (SD) = 1.27]; participants were primarily non‐Hispanic Caucasian (86.2%). Participants answered questions about contact with their dating partner, being the victim of violence (physical and sexual) during a date, physical perpetration, alcohol use and cannabis use for up to 90 days. The mean number of diaries completed was 54.90 (SD = 27.66). Measurements The primary outcomes were self‐reported daily cannabis and alcohol use. Being the victim of violence during a date was assessed each day using self‐report items from the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales and Sexual Experiences Survey. Findings Being the victim of violence during a date predicted cannabis use the following day (odds ratio = 2.25), and this effect held when controlling for contact with a partner, cannabis and alcohol use the previous day, physical perpetration the previous day, alcohol use the same day and the overall likelihood of being the victim of violence during a date, substance use and physical perpetration. Being the victim of violence during a date did not predict next‐day alcohol use. Being the victim of sexual and physical violence during a date did not differentially predict next‐day substance use. Conclusions Among female college students in the United States, being the victim of violence during a date appears to increase the risk for cannabis use the following day.