title: Sexual risk at first coitus: Does alcohol make a difference?
abstract: This study examines whether use of alcohol at first coitus is associated with increased sexual risk for young women. First coitus is the focus of the investigation because it is a memorable, formative experience that has implications for subsequent sexual health. A community sample of young women ages 18-19 years (N = 227) completed retrospective interviews. Characteristics and perceptions of the first coital event were examined using chi squares and one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to determine if there were differences based on alcohol-involvement. Alcohol-involved first coitus events occurred in social settings with risky partners, were rated less positively, and were non-consensual relative to those that did not involve alcohol. Alcohol use was not related to condom use. Alcohol-involvement was associated with subsequent pairing of alcohol with sex and incapacitated rape. Adolescent alcohol use occurs in contexts that increases young women's sexual risk through exposure to risky partners.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States. Electronic address: livingst@ria.buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.affiliation: Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Windle
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, 685 Baldy Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States.
authors.forename: Laina Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Bay-Cheng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D003075:Coitus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent females; Adolescent sexual risk; Drinking context; First coitus; Underage drinking; Victimization