Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, antibisexual stigma, and alcohol use and binge drinking among young bisexual+ women who experienced sexual violence.

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to sexual violence and antibisexual stigma were associated with alcohol use as a way to cope among bisexual and other multigender-attracted (i.e., bisexual+) women.

METHOD: The sample included 113 cisgender bisexual+ women (Mage = 22.17, range = 18-25; 85.8% White) who reported adult sexual violence and alcohol use at baseline. Past-month alcohol use was assessed at 1-month, 2-month, and 3-month follow-up. Multilevel models tested indirect effects of PTSD symptoms and antibisexual stigma on alcohol use (i.e., quantity multiplied by frequency) and any binge episode (i.e., 4+ drinks consumed within 2 hr) via coping motives.

RESULTS

At the within-person level, PTSD symptoms and antibisexual stigma predicted higher coping motives, which predicted alcohol use and likelihood of any binge episode. Indirect effects of PTSD and antibisexual stigma on alcohol use and any binge episode via coping motives were significant. At the between-person level, only PTSD symptoms were related to coping motives; PTSD had a direct negative effect on alcohol use and any binge episode. Between-person indirect effects of PTSD on alcohol use and likelihood of any binge episode via coping motives were significant.

CONCLUSIONS

At waves when participants experienced higher PTSD symptoms and antibisexual stigma, they reported higher coping motives and associated risk for alcohol use and binge episodes. Women with higher average coping motives also reported higher alcohol use and binge episode likelihood. Research, policy, and clinical interventions must address both PTSD symptoms and antibisexual stigma to reduce alcohol use among bisexual+ women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).