title: Impact of alcohol on sexual decision making: Intentions to have unprotected sex.
abstract: The impact of alcohol on intentions to have sex with a new partner and the antecedents of intentions were investigated in three studies (N = 139, 60, and 218, respectively). In all three studies, respondents were intoxicated or not intoxicated with alcohol and completed measures based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour in relation to having sex whilst imagining him- or her-self in the scenario. The scenario described unprotected sex between two individuals not in an existing relationship. Consistently across studies, intoxication had a significant effect on intentions for men but not for women. Also consistently across studies, affective attitudes were significantly stronger determinants of intentions for women than for men. Alcohol intoxication consistently moderated the impact of affective attitudes on intentions in women but not men, with greater intoxication associated with stronger impacts (Studies 1, 2, and 3). Implications for understanding the impacts of alcohol intoxication on sexual decision making in men and women are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Psychology , LS2 9JT Leeds , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conner
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grearly
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berry
mesh_terms: D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Theory of planned behaviour; alcohol intoxication; gender differences; risky sex