Posttraumatic Stress and Drug Use-Related Harm: Ethnic-Racial Identity as a Moderator for Women of Color Enduring Partner Violence

Abstract Objective Intimate partner violence is highly prevalent, with approximately one in two 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, little 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 as a moderator in the relation between PTSD symptoms and drug use-related harm. Method Participants were 103 women of color currently experiencing IPV who were recruited from the community. Regression analyses examined whether ethnic-racial identity facets of affirmation, exploration, and resolution attenuated the relation between PTSD symptoms and drug use-related harm. Results The affirmation component of ethnic-racial identity moderated the relation between PTSD symptoms and drug use-related harm (B = −0.02, p = .02), such that PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with drug use-related harm at higher (b = 0.10, p < .001), but not lower (b = 0.01, p = .52), levels of ethnic-racial identity affirmation. No moderating effects were detected for ethnic-racial identity exploration and resolution. Conclusion Results of this study suggest that bolstering the ethnic-racial identity facet of affirmation among women of color who experience IPV may attenuate the relation between PTSD symptoms and drug use-related harm.