title: The effects of acute ethanol consumption on sexual response and sexual risk-taking intent.
abstract: Two theories of sexual risk taking (disinhibition and alcohol myopia) were tested using genital measures of sexual response and computer measures of sexual risk propensity. A total of 44 men and women completed two sessions comparing responses to erotic films while consuming alcohol (breath alcohol doses were .025 g/kg and .08 g/kg) or juice alone. After consuming alcohol, more sexual arousal was reported in response to neutral films and at a breath alcohol level of .08 g/kg as compared to no alcohol. Genital responses for men and women increased during sexual films, but men did not respond as strongly when breath alcohol level was .08 g/kg. Intentions to have intercourse with a new partner at baseline predicted the level of sexual arousal reported. As self-reported sexual arousal increased in response to sexual films and higher alcohol dose, the intent to engage in intercourse with a new partner increased. Alcohol dose was not related to later sexual intercourse intentions. With no direct relationship of alcohol and intercourse intentions, results appear more consistent with a disinhibition model of sexual arousal.
authors.affiliation: Mind Research Network, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA. nprause@mrn.org
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prause
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Staley
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Finn
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol