TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of drinking protective behavioral strategies and sexual perceptions and behaviors in U.S. college students
AU - Logan, Diane E.
AU - Koo, Kelly H.
AU - Kilmer, Jason R.
AU - Blayney, Jessica A.
AU - Lewis, Melissa A.
N1 - Funding Information:
Data collection and manuscript preparation was supported by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Grant K01AA016966 awarded to M. A. Lewis. Manuscript preparation was supported by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Grant 1F31AA018238-01A1 awarded to D. E. Logan and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Grant 2T32AA007459 awarded to P. Monti.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality.
PY - 2015/6/13
Y1 - 2015/6/13
N2 - Alcohol use among college students is linked to an increased likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behaviors, including casual sex and unprotected sex. These behaviors increase college students' risks for negative social and health-related consequences. This study examined the relationship between drinking behaviors and protective behavioral strategies (PBS), expectancies and perceptions of sexual risk, and actual alcohol-related sexual behaviors and consequences. Sexually active college students completed Web-based self-report measures of drinking behaviors and use of PBS, alcohol expectancies and perceptions of risk, and sexual behaviors and related consequences (n = 524; 57.1% women). Findings indicated that PBS were related to lower expectancies of sexual risk and sexual disinhibition, and among lighter drinkers, lower expectancies of sexual enhancement from alcohol. PBS were also related to decreased perceptions of sexual-related risks, some alcohol-related sexual behaviors, including number of drinks before/during sex, and number of sexual consequences, but were not related to abstaining during sex, frequency of alcohol-related sexual behaviors, or general condom use. These findings demonstrate a disconnect between perceived and actual risks among college students, such that decreased perceptions of risk may not be associated with protective behaviors. Prevention and intervention implications are discussed.
AB - Alcohol use among college students is linked to an increased likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behaviors, including casual sex and unprotected sex. These behaviors increase college students' risks for negative social and health-related consequences. This study examined the relationship between drinking behaviors and protective behavioral strategies (PBS), expectancies and perceptions of sexual risk, and actual alcohol-related sexual behaviors and consequences. Sexually active college students completed Web-based self-report measures of drinking behaviors and use of PBS, alcohol expectancies and perceptions of risk, and sexual behaviors and related consequences (n = 524; 57.1% women). Findings indicated that PBS were related to lower expectancies of sexual risk and sexual disinhibition, and among lighter drinkers, lower expectancies of sexual enhancement from alcohol. PBS were also related to decreased perceptions of sexual-related risks, some alcohol-related sexual behaviors, including number of drinks before/during sex, and number of sexual consequences, but were not related to abstaining during sex, frequency of alcohol-related sexual behaviors, or general condom use. These findings demonstrate a disconnect between perceived and actual risks among college students, such that decreased perceptions of risk may not be associated with protective behaviors. Prevention and intervention implications are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84929606579&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00224499.2014.964167
DO - 10.1080/00224499.2014.964167
M3 - Article
C2 - 25350078
AN - SCOPUS:84929606579
SN - 0022-4499
VL - 52
SP - 558
EP - 569
JO - Journal of Sex Research
JF - Journal of Sex Research
IS - 5
ER -