Research
Harassment, Gender and Drinking

Investigator: Judith Richman, Ph.D.

This is a five year study which seeks to delineate the prevalence of perceived sexual and non-sexual harassment experiences reported by men and women in a racially and ethnically diverse university work setting and to assess their impact on psychological distress, alcohol consumption, drinking motivations and alcohol-related problems. A sample of 2,492 university employees completed a self-report mail questionnaire. One year later, 82% of wave l respondents completed a wave 2 questionnaire. Indepth interviews were also conducted on a smaller sample. The study addresses both the consequences of workplace harassment experiences and psychosocial mediators such as ways of coping, types and degrees of social supports and personality styles. An ultimate goal is to address both the prevention of work-based harassment and the extent to which active coping may aid in effectively countering harassment experiences and their negative mental health consequences such as symptomatic distress and the self-medication of distress.