Correlates of alcohol-related regretted sex among college students.

Abstract

The prevalence of alcohol-related regretted sex in college students warrants a better understanding of the characteristics of students who report such experiences. Therefore, the present study examined correlates of regretted sexual experiences involving alcohol use among two specific high-risk college student samples: Students mandated to alcohol intervention (N = 522) and volunteer first-year students transitioning to college (N = 481). Results indicated that alcohol-related regretted sex occurred in similar rates in mandated and volunteer students, with approximately 25% of the students reporting at least one occurrence in the past month. Women were more likely to report alcohol-related regretted sex compared to men. The belief that alcohol use would result in “liquid courage” was associated with alcohol-related regretted sex among college students, even after accounting for greater alcohol use and problem alcohol use behaviors. These findings have significant implications for intervention efforts and future research.

Binge Drinking, Reflection Impulsivity, and Unplanned Sexual Behavior: Impaired Decision‐Making in Young Social Drinkers

“…Specifically, a range of studies have indicated that the binge drinking pattern is associated with numerous adverse psychological and health‐related outcomes (Carlson et al., ). For example, binge drinkers are more at risk of alcohol‐related problems relating to impulsive behavior, drink driving, alcohol dependence, unplanned and risky sexual behavior, and associated health, social, and economic consequences (Miller et al., ; Orchowski et al., ; Wechsler et al., ).…”

Are Certain College Students Prone to Experiencing Excessive Alcohol-Related Consequences? Predicting Membership in a High-Risk Subgroup Using Pre-College Profiles

“…H IGH-RISK DRINKING AMONG college students is often associated with negative consequences, including criminal offenses, driving after drinking, and unwanted sexual experiences (Fromme et al, 2010;Lee et al, 2011;Lefkowitz et al, 2011;Orchowski et al, 2012). Although many college students drink, there is considerable variability in how students experience alcohol-related problems (Mallett et al, 2011a;2011b).…”

Correlates of Binge Drinking in a Sample of Canadian University Students

“…Further, Brown and Vanable (2007) reported that prior alcohol use before sexual relations was related to risky sexual behaviour (e.g., unprotected sex); however, this relationship existed more prominently among individuals engaging in sexual relations with non-steady partners. Finally, Orchowski et al (2012) found that reporting higher levels of alcohol consumption per week and risky behaviours related to alcohol use were both significantly associated with reporting having had a sexual encounter under the influence of alcohol that was later regretted.…”

“…"Risky" Sexual Behaviour: Based on the association between binge drinking and disinhibition (or impulsivity), binge drinking has also been associated with risky sexual behaviour such as unprotected or unplanned sexual relations (Bersamin, Paschall, Saltz, & Zamboanga, 2012;Brown & Vanable, 2007;Connor, Psutka, Cousins, Gray, & Kypri , 2013;Orchowski, Mastroleo, & Borsari, 2012;Townshend et al, 2014). For example, Townshend et al (2014), in comparing low-binge drinkers (those who scored lower than the median binge drinking score of 28.5 on the Alcohol Use Questionnaire which factors in both quantity and frequency) to high-binge drinkers (those who scored higher than the median score), found that high-binge drinkers reported more instances of unplanned sexual encounters than their lower-level counterparts.…”