Among people with a history of sexual abuse, being impulsive is associated with more frequent use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco, per international survey study of 64,472 participants
Article URL: https://plos.io/4j6tivZ
Article title: The moderating role of impulsivity in the association between sexual abuse and substance use frequency across countries, gender identities, and sexual orientations
Author countries: USA, Hungary, Switzerland, Gibraltar, Germany, Canada.
Funding: Financial Disclosure Statement The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Damla Aksen DEA was supported by the NIDA T32 Neuroimaging Sciences Training in Substance Abuse Program (T32DA022975), Sarah Lichenstein SL was supported by K08DA051667 Beáta Bőthe BB was supported by the FRQSC – Research Support for New Academics (NP) Program (https://doi.org/10.69777/343918). BB is a researcher of the Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur les Problèmes Conjugaux et les Agressions Sexuelles, supported by the FRQSC - Regroupements stratégiques / Centre - fonctionnement (https://doi.org/10.69777/281155). Léna Nagy LN was supported by the ÚNKP-22-3 and ÚNKP-23-4 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund. Shane Kraus SWK was supported by the Kindbridge Research Institute. Zsolt Demetrovics ZD was supported by the Hungarian National Research, Development, and Innovation Office (Grant numbers: KKP126835). Joël Billieux JB received support from the WUN Research Development Fund (RDF) 2021.
Journal
PLOS One
Article Title
The moderating role of impulsivity in the association between sexual abuse and substance use frequency across countries, gender identities, and sexual orientations
Article Publication Date
30-Sep-2026
COI Statement
Conflict of Interest Marc Potenza MNP discloses that he has consulted for and advised Baria-Tek and Boehringer Ingelheim; been involved in a patent application with Yale University and Novartis; received research support from the Mohegan Sun Casino and the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling; consulted for or advised legal, non-profit, healthcare and gambling entities on issues related to impulse control, internet use, and addictive behaviors; performed grant reviews; edited journals/journal sections; given academic lectures in grand rounds, CME events, and other clinical/scientific venues; and generated books or chapters for publishers of mental health texts. Shane Kraus SWK discloses that he has received funding from the International Center for Responsible Gaming, M.G.M Resorts International, Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies, Taylor Francis, Springer Nature, The Nevada Problem Gambling Project, Sports Betting Alliance, and Kindbridge Research Institute.