Hans Saint-Eloi Cadely, Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies

Young adult women (18-29 years old) are at an especially high risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) & sexual violence (SV). Moreover, the effects of alcohol abuse are more detrimental for young adult women relative to young adult men. Factors that have not yet been explored but that may increase emerging adult women’s likelihood of engaging in alcohol abuse and experiencing IPV and/or SV include pre-college experiences and parental supervision and communication. The latter has been shown to serve as a protective factor against engagement in alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors. However, more research is needed to understand the influence of parental communication specifically on risk-taking and risk for experiencing SV in college. Furthermore, most studies that have examined experiences of alcohol use, IPV, and SV among emerging adult women have been conducted cross-sectionally with those in urban areas or those enrolled in college. The emerging adulthood literature has often been criticized for samples being limited to college students. Dr. Saint-Eloi Cadely’s study aims to address this gap by collecting data on alcohol abuse, intimate partner violence, & sexual violence from on-campus students, students who commute, and participants who do not attend college.