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Demographic Predictors of Event-Level Associations between Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Behavior

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Abstract

Alcohol consumption is associated with sexual behavior and outcomes, though research indicates a variety of moderating factors, including demographic characteristics. To better target interventions aimed at alcohol-related sexual risk behavior, our analyses simultaneously examine demographic predictors of both day- and event-level associations between alcohol consumption and sexual behavior in a sample of young adults (N = 301) who are sexually active and consume alcohol. Young adults (aged 18–29) recruited using time-space sampling and incentivized snowball sampling completed a survey and a timeline follow-back calendar reporting alcohol consumption and sexual behavior in the past 30 days. On a given day, a greater number of drinks consumed was associated with higher likelihood of sex occurring, particularly for women and single participants. During a given sexual event, number of drinks consumed was not associated with condom use, nor did any demographic predictors predict that association. Findings highlight associations between alcohol and sexual behavior, though not between alcohol and sexual risk behavior, highlighting the need for additional research exploring the complex role of alcohol in sexual risk behavior and the need to develop prevention efforts to minimize the role of alcohol in the initiation of sexual encounters.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child and Human Development (R01 HD061410, Jeffrey T. Parsons & Sarit A. Golub, P.I.s). H. Jonathon Rendina was supported by a career development award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (K01-DA039030). The views expressed in this paper do not expressly reflect the views of the National Institutes of Health or any other governmental agency. The authors acknowledge the contributions of other members of the project team, especially Chris Hietikko, Ruben Jimenez, Amy LeClair, Chloe Mirzayi, Mark Pawson, Summer Stephanos, and Daniel Tracy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), 142 W. 36th St., 9th Fl., New York, NY, 10018, USA

    Brooke E. Wells, H. Jonathon Rendina, Brian C. Kelly & Jeffrey T. Parsons

  2. Center for Human Sexuality Studies, Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA, 19013, USA

    Brooke E. Wells

  3. Department of Sociology, Purdue University, 700 W. State St., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Brian C. Kelly

  4. Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), 695 Park Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Sarit A. Golub & Jeffrey T. Parsons

  5. Doctoral Program in Basic and Applied Social Psychology, The Graduate Center of CUNY, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY, 10034, USA

    Sarit A. Golub

  6. Doctoral Program in Health Psychology and Clinical Science, The Graduate Center of CUNY, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY, 10034, USA

    Sarit A. Golub & Jeffrey T. Parsons

  7. Doctoral Program in Public Health, The Graduate Center of CUNY, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY, 10034, USA

    Jeffrey T. Parsons

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  1. Brooke E. Wells
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  2. H. Jonathon Rendina
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Correspondence to Jeffrey T. Parsons.

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The City University of New York institutional review board approved all study procedures.

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Wells, B.E., Rendina, H.J., Kelly, B.C. et al. Demographic Predictors of Event-Level Associations between Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Behavior. J Urban Health 93, 155–169 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-015-0015-8

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