Predictors of risky sexual behavior with new and regular partners in a sample of women bar drinkers.
OBJECTIVE
We designed the current study to assess the rates of risky sexual behavior among women bar drinkers, as well as differences in predictors of risky sexual behavior, based on partner type-new or regular.


METHODS
We conducted comprehensive, in-person interviews with 241 young women who reported weekly drinking in bars. Several constructs (e.g., individual characteristics, social and sexual behavior, substance use) that we hypothesized would predict risky sexual behavior were assessed in two separate hierarchical regression models for new and regular sexual partners.


RESULTS
Rates of risky sexual behavior were significantly higher with regular partners compared with new partners. Increased risky sexual behavior with new partners was significantly associated with having had a riskier regular partner in the past 6 months, lower sexually transmitted disease (STD)/pregnancy prevention assertiveness, increased expectations of sexual disinhibition when drinking, a greater history of prior sexual risk taking, and more frequent drinking in bars. Increased risky sexual behavior with a regular partner was significantly associated with being older, the use of oral contraceptives, lower assertiveness for STD/pregnancy prevention, a greater history of prior sexual risk taking, and increased drug use.


CONCLUSIONS
Among young women who regularly drink in bars, sexual risk taking was significantly higher with regular partners than with new partners. The predictors of risky sexual behavior differed based on partner type. These findings have implications for including information about the role of alcohol, drinking context, and drug use, as well as individual difference characteristics and partner type in targeted prevention strategies to reduce sexual risk taking.
Parks
Kathleen A
KA
Research Institute on Addictions, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA. parks@ria.buffalo.edu
Hsieh
Ya-Ping
YP
Collins
R Lorraine
RL
Levonyan-Radloff
Kristina
K
King
Linda P
LP
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012931:Social Environment; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult