Abstract
This study assessed alcohol and sex-related cognitions and behaviors, including alcohol-related sexual expectancies, descriptive norms, and protective behavioral strategies, associated with women’s risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. A national sample of young adults ages 18–20 years was subset to women who were capable of pregnancy and sexually active (n = 422). The outcome was risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancy as determined by contraceptive status and heavy-episodic drinking. SAS version 9.4 was used to estimate logistic regression models. Alcohol-related sexual expectancies related to enhancement were significantly associated with increased odds of alcohol-exposed pregnancy risk. In contrast, women who reported the use of more safe sex (non-condom related) protective behavioral strategies (e.g., talk to partner about birth control use) were at decreased odds of alcohol-exposed pregnancy risk. Future interventions to reduce the risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies should consider alcohol-related sexual expectancies and safer sex protective behavioral strategies as leverage points.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 123-130 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Behavioral Medicine |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2021 |
Keywords
- Alcohol-exposed pregnancy
- Condom
- Contraception
- Heavy-episodic drinking
- Women
- Young adults