Latent Profile Analysis of Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Attitudes Among College Women: Associations With Sexual Victimization Risk

Abstract

This study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify at-risk profiles of college freshman women (n = 481) using self-reports of alcohol consumption and sociosexuality. Analyses resulted in three profiles labeled low alcohol use–low sociosexuality, high alcohol use–medium sociosexuality, and high alcohol use–high sociosexuality. Baseline victimization predicted latent profile membership. More severely victimized women were more likely to be in the high alcohol–high sociosexuality profile than the high alcohol–medium sociosexuality and low alcohol–low sociosexuality profiles. At follow-up, the high alcohol–high sociosexuality profile had higher mean levels of victimization severity, relative to those in the high alcohol–medium sociosexuality and low alcohol–low sociosexuality profiles.