Recent investigations have demonstrated that alcohol use in connection with sexual activity is related to unsafe sexual practices known to increase the risk of HIV transmission. However, one is unable to ascertain from these studies whether covariation between these behaviors is due to direct causation or third variables. In this study, college students (N = 590) were asked about the circumstances surrounding their aggregate and event-level sexual behavior. Results showed significant associations between alcohol consumption and failure to use condoms among subjects' aggregate sexual behavior (lifetime and 30-days) and during their first intercourse with a most recent sex partner. Evaluation of a series of path analytical models allowed for a more focused examination of the direct and unique contribution of alcohol consumption in explaining condom use. These models demonstrated that correlations between drinking and sexual risk-taking were largely inflated by spurious covariation with underlying third variables. In particular, covariation between alcohol and condom use was partly accounted for by sensation-seeking and impulsivity personality factors. Results of this study also revealed that males' alcohol and condom use were partly explained by the expectancy that drinking leads to sexual risk-taking. The co-occurrence of alcohol use and risky sex among women, on the other hand, was partly explained by motives to use alcohol as a method of coping. Implications for AIDS prevention efforts were discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-12, Section: B, page: 7050. / Major Professor: Alan R. Lang. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77636 |
| Contributors | Meadows, William Robert., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 161 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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