Young women’s alcohol expectancies for sexual risk-taking mediate the link between sexual enhancement motives and condomless sex when drinking

Jennifer L. Brown, Amelia E. Talley, Andrew K. Littlefield, Nicole K. Gause

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Alcohol use is prevalent among young women. Alcohol expectancies for sexual risk-taking and sexual enhancement motives have been associated with decreased condom use. This study investigated whether alcohol expectancies for sexual risk-taking mediated the association between sexual enhancement motives and condom use. Young women (N = 287, M age = 20.1) completed a survey assessing alcohol expectancies for sexual risk-taking, sexual enhancement motives, and characteristics of their most recent sexual encounter involving alcohol. Most participants (66.9 %) reported unprotected sex during their last sexual encounter involving alcohol. Higher sexual enhancement motives (OR = 1.35, p = .019) and alcohol expectancies for sexual risk-taking (OR = 1.89, p < .001) were associated with increased likelihood of condomless sex. Alcohol expectancies for sexual risk-taking mediated the association between sexual enhancement motives and condomless vaginal sex. Within the context of sexual encounters involving alcohol, expectancies that drinking may result in sexual risk-taking may account for why sexual enhancement motives relate to decreased condom use.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)925-930
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Behavioral Medicine
Volume39
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2016

Keywords

  • Alcohol expectancies
  • Condom use
  • Expectancy motive theory
  • Sex motives
  • Young women

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