title: Sexual behaviour under the influence of alcohol among Spanish adolescents.
abstract: This paper aims to compare sexual behaviour and risk and protective factors between samples of adolescents who have sex under the influence of alcohol and those who do not, and to determine predictors factors for having had sex under the influence of alcohol. We analysed differences between these two groups in sexual practices, attitudes towards HIV, subjective norms and HIV knowledge. Drawing on survey data collected from 1216 Spanish adolescents aged 14-18 (M = 15.92; SD = .76), a subset of 297 sexually experienced participants was selected. Of these, 117 reported having had sex under the influence of alcohol in the past six months (51% girls). Adolescents who combined sex and alcohol engaged more in vaginal sex, oral sex and anal sex than those who did not. Having had sex under the influence of alcohol in the past six months was associated with negative attitudes towards condom use, when there are obstacles on using them, and less consistent condom use. There were no differences in knowledge about STIs/HIV between both groups. Adolescents who combined sex and alcohol showed further characteristics associated with sexual risk. Preventive measures must address the particular characteristics of this risk group. Further evidence is need about alcohol effects on sexual behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Miguel Hernández University, Alicante, Spain. jpespada@umh.es
authors.forename: José P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Espada
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orgilés
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Piqueras
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Carballo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires