Effects of alcohol, expectancies, and partner type on condom use in college males: event-level analyses.
Sexually active heterosexual college males (N = 93) provided data on over 1,500 sexual encounters. Alcohol consumption, expectancies about alcohol's impact on condom use, and partner type each contributed to use of a condom. Partner type covaried with alcohol consumption and condom use. The men consumed significantly more alcohol with new partners, followed by casual partners, and then by regular partners. In contrast, they were more likely to use condoms with new partners than with casual or regular partners. Drinking alcohol decreased condom use, but only with casual partners. Expectancies about alcohol's disinhibiting sexual effects decreased condom use as well. These data suggest that alcohol consumption does decrease condom use, particularly with casual partners and when drinkers believe alcohol alters sexual disinhibition. Improving knowledge about HIV and other STD transmission in casual partners and challenging expectancies about alcohol as a sexual disinhibitor could help decrease the spread of HIV and other STDs.
LaBrie
Joseph
J
Department of Psychology, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA, 90045, USA. jlabrie@lmu.edu
Earleywine
Mitch
M
Schiffman
Jason
J
Pedersen
Eric
E
Marriot
Charles
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003469:Culture; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult