title: Sexual risk-taking mediates the association between impulsivity and acquisition of sexually transmitted infections among hazardously drinking incarcerated women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A growing literature has identified associations between impulsivity and negative behaviors such as sexual risk-taking among high-risk and/or vulnerable populations, but few studies have linked impulsivity to biological outcomes of sexual risk-taking. The main purpose of this study was to document associations among impulsivity, sexual risk-taking, and biological measures of sexually transmitted infection (STI+) in a sample of hazardously drinking incarcerated women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred forty-five hazardously drinking incarcerated women self-reported alcohol consumption and consequences, impulsivity, and sexual behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biological testing revealed a 22.9% prevalence rate for STI+. In this sample, sexual risk-taking fully mediated the association between impulsivity and likelihood of STI+. In addition, individuals reporting sexual activity with multiple partners were significantly more likely to test STI+ than those reporting sexual activity with a primary partner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results support previous research on impulsivity by demonstrating that impulsivity leads to STI+ through risky behavioral choices. These findings also extend prior work by documenting this association using biologically confirmed measures in a vulnerable female population that carries multiple risk factors and thus warrants increased research attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA 01602, USA. jhayaki@holycross.edu
authors.forename: Jumi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hayaki
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*