title: Does sexual self-concept ambiguity moderate relations among perceived peer norms for alcohol use, alcohol-dependence symptomatology, and HIV risk-taking behavior?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study examines the relation between peer descriptive norms for alcohol involvement and alcohol-dependence symptomatology and whether this relation differs as a function of sexual self-concept ambiguity (SSA). This study also examines the associations among peer descriptive norms for alcohol involvement, alcohol-dependence symptomatology, and lifetime HIV risk-taking behavior and how these relations are influenced by SSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women between ages 18 and 30 years (N = 351; M = 20.96, SD = 2.92) completed an online survey assessing sexual self-concept, peer descriptive norms, alcohol-dependence symptomatology, and HIV risk-taking behaviors. Structural equation modeling was used to test hypotheses of interest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant latent variable interaction between SSA and descriptive norms for peer alcohol use. There was a stronger positive relationship between peer descriptive norms for alcohol and alcohol-dependence symptomatology when SSA was higher compared with when SSA was lower. Both latent variables exhibited positive simple associations with alcohol-dependence symptoms. Peer descriptive norms for alcohol involvement directly and indirectly influenced HIV risk-taking behaviors, and the indirect influence was conditional based on SSA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings illustrate complex, nuanced associations between perceived norms, identity-related self-concepts, and risky health behaviors from various domains. Future intervention efforts may be warranted to address both problem alcohol use and HIV-risk engagement among individuals with greater sexual self-concept ambiguity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.
authors.forename: Amelia E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Talley
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.
authors.forename: Angela K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.
authors.forename: Andrew K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Littlefield
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010379:Peer Group; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D066262:Social Norms; D012938:Social Perception; D035501:Uncertainty; D055815:Young Adult