Abstract
The interaction of sexual fear and acute alcohol intoxication on the likelihood of risky sexual behavior was explored. Participants (Ps; N = 115) completed a measure of sexual fears and were randomly assigned to no-, low-, or high-dose alcohol conditions. Ps then read an eroticized vignette, where they were the protagonist, and rated their likelihood of sex with a new partner when no condom was available. Controlling for gender and social desirability, compared to sober Ps, highly intoxicated Ps indicated that they were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors. Sexual fear was modestly negatively related to risky sex likelihood among sober or mildly intoxicated Ps but strongly positively related to risky sex likelihood among highly intoxicated Ps. Findings underscore the notion that alcohol affects different types of individuals differently and indicate that alcohol may foster sexual risk-taking, in part, by attenuating or counteracting fear or anxiety.
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Notes
Data were analyzed both from the full sample and from the subset of self-identified exclusive heterosexuals. The pattern of results was identical.
Please note that drinking in the vignette was not a manipulation independent of participant’s drinking; rather, it was an extension of the primary independent variable, alcohol intoxication. We labeled the drinks in the vignette (alcohol versus soft drinks) to be consistent with participants’ alcohol consumption in the laboratory to facilitate their ability to project themselves into the vignette. We did not cross participants’ drinking with protagonist’s drinking. Doing so could have interfered with participants’ ability to take perspective in the vignette, particularly highly intoxicated participants, introducing a potentially serious confound.
Sexual aversion in the present sample was comparable to levels reported by Katz et al. (1993) in undergraduates sampled in 1988, 1991, and 1992 (means of 1.75, 1.80, and 1.88, respectively, on a 4-point scale). In the present study and in Katz’ samples, means were approximately 25% below the midpoint of the scale.
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Acknowledgments
Conduct of this research was supported in part by a Sexuality Research Fellowship awarded to the Susan A. Stoner from the Social Science Research Council with funding from the Ford Foundation, by a grant from the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute of the University of Washington to William H. George, and by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA13565) to William H. George. Portions of the findings were presented at the 2003 meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality in San Antonio, TX.
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Appendix
Appendix
Sexual Desire and Decision-Making Dependent Measures
Section 1 | |
1. | How much do you desire to have sex with [Ellen]/[Dan]* |
2. | How much do you wish you had a condom |
3. | How likely are you to ask [Ellen]/[Dan] if [she]/[he] has a condom |
4. | How likely are you to have sex with [Ellen]/[Dan] even if [she]/[he] does not have a condom |
Section 2 | |
5. | How much do you desire [Ellen]/[Dan] to perform oral sex on you* |
6. | How likely are you to allow [Ellen]/[Dan] to perform oral sex on you |
7. | How much do you desire to perform oral sex on [Ellen]/[Dan]* |
8. | How likely are you to perform oral sex on [Ellen]/[Dan] |
9. | How much do you desire to rub your [penis]/[clitoris] against [Ellen]/[Dan]’s [clitoris]/[penis]* |
10. | How likely are you to rub your [penis]/[clitoris] against [Ellen]/[Dan]’s [clitoris]/[penis] |
Section 3 | |
11. | How much do you desire to [put your penis]/[allow Dan to put his penis] inside of [Ellen]/[you]* |
12. | How likely are you to [put your penis]/[allow Dan to put his penis] inside of [Ellen]/[you] |
13. | How much do you desire to relax and let [Ellen]/[Dan] decide how far to go* |
14. | How likely are you to relax and let [Ellen]/[Dan] decide how far to go |
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Stoner, S.A., George, W.H., Peters, L.M. et al. Liquid Courage: Alcohol Fosters Risky Sexual Decision-Making in Individuals with Sexual Fears. AIDS Behav 11, 227–237 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9137-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9137-z