The role of women's alcohol consumption in managing sexual intimacy and sexual safety motives.
OBJECTIVE
Two studies, based on an alcohol myopia model, were designed to understand the role of women's alcohol consumption on vulnerability to sexual assault. We predicted that, in a high- conflict social situation, alcohol would make it more difficult to recognize sexual assault risk, lowering intentions to resist sexual advances.


METHODS
In Study 1, women (N = 51) were recruited in bars and classified as having a high (.06 or greater) breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) or low BrAC. They were asked to project themselves into a hypothetical scenario that portrayed interest in establishing an intimate relationship and included mild sexual aggression. In Study 2, women (N = 101) were randomly assigned to an alcohol (target BrAC: .08%), placebo, or no-alcohol condition. They responded at two time points to a similar hypothetical scenario that described mild sexual aggression (Time 1) and serious sexual aggression (Time 2).


RESULTS
In Study 1, women with higher BrAC perceived less risk in the scenario and anticipated less resistance than women with low BrAC. In Study 2, similar results were found but only following serious aggression. There were no placebo effects. Both studies suggest that the effects of alcohol on resistance are partially mediated via risk perceptions.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol appears to reduce intentions to resist sexual advances from an acquaintance while increasing intentions to pursue relationship-enhancing behaviors. Effects are not completely explained by an alcohol myopia perspective. Differences in findings between the two studies may reflect differences in methodology, context, or sample.
Testa
Maria
M
Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA. testa@ria.buffalo.edu
Vanzile-Tamsen
Carol
C
Livingston
Jennifer A
JA
Buddie
Amy M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009042:Motivation; D012147:Restaurants; D012449:Safety; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol