Alcohol Consumption, Drug Use, and Condom Use Among STD Clinic Patients

Abstract

Research on the association between substance use and sexual risk behavior has yielded a complex pattern of fi ndings. Such inconsistent fi ndings may refl ect method variance, including factors such as gender of the participant, nature of the sexual event, partner characteristics, and type of substance used. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between substance use and unprotected sex independently for alcohol, drugs, or combined substance use and to examine partner characteristics as a moderator of this association. Method: Participants (N = 1,419; 48% women) were recruited from a publicly funded sexually transmitted disease clinic and were asked to complete an audio computer-assisted self-interview regarding their most recent sexual experience, including nature of the event, substance use, and partner characteristics. Results: Analyses showed that alcohol use was related to condom use when gender and partner type were considered; thus, for women, but not for men, partner type interacted with alcohol consumption such that condom use was less likely when alcohol consumption preceded sex with nonprimary partners (drinking was unrelated to condom use with primary partners). Subsequent analyses examining partner substance use showed that women, but not men, who reported both they and their nonprimary partners were drinking during sex were less likely to use a condom. Conclusions: At the event level, alcohol consumption among sexually transmitted disease clinic patients is associated with condom use, but this association differs by gender and partner characteristics. Findings suggest the need to strengthen substance-use components in sexual risk reduction interventions for women and their partners.

Short-Term Prospective Study of Hooking Up Among College Students

“…Conceptually, young adults' alcohol use may decrease inhibitions to approach potential partners, making hooking up more likely as well as influence their decisions to become more physically intimate. Alcohol use for women was a stronger predictor of engaging in hook up encounters (both non-penetrative and penetrative hook ups) as compared to men, which is consistent with previous research examining gender effects on the relationship between alcohol use and casual sex behaviors (e.g., Owen & Fincham, 2010a;Scott-Sheldon et al, 2009).…”

“…Although many studies have found that men and women hook up at similar rates (e.g., Fielder & Carey, 2010;Owen et al, 2010;Paul et al, 2000), it appears that gender interacts with other predictors and consequences of hooking up. For instance, researchers have found women's alcohol use is a stronger predictor of engaging in casual sex and can influence their ability to negotiate or initiate condom use as compared to men (e.g., Owen & Fincham, 2010a;Scott-Sheldon et al, 2009). Moreover, Grello et al (2006) found that men who were less psychologically distressed and women who were more psychologically distressed were both more likely to hook up, although research on this gender interaction has not always been replicated (e.g., Fielder & Carey, 2010;Owen et al, 2010).…”

Effects of Gender and Psychosocial Factors on “Friends with Benefits” Relationships Among Young Adults

“…Moreover, women's alcohol use was a stronger predictor of engaging in FWB as compared to men, suggesting that alcohol use may have differential effects on young adults' decision to engage in FWB relationships. This is consistent with research that has found women's (but not men's) alcohol use can influence critical decisions during casual sex such as condom use (e.g., Scott-Sheldon et al, 2009). Nonetheless, alcohol use appears to be a robust predictor of engaging in ambiguous relationships and this most likely reflects its effect on individuals' capacity for making thoughtful decisions.…”

Risk Factors of Alcohol Problem Drinking Among Female Bar/Hotel Workers in Moshi, Tanzania: A Multi-level Analysis

“…Consistent male condom use in men and women has been associated with other high-risk behaviors in previous research [35]. Additionally, it has been observed in a sample of STI clinic attendants in the US that among women, partner type interacted with alcohol consumption; women were less likely to use condoms when alcohol consumption was with a non-regular sexual partner [36]. Conversely, Tucker et al [37] have reported that women who drank before a sexual event were more likely to use condoms than those who did not drink alcohol.…”