Influences of Sexual Sensation Seeking, Alcohol Consumption, and Sexual Arousal on Women's Behavioral Intentions Related to Having Unprotected Sex

Jeanette Norris, Susan A. Stoner, Danielle M. Hessler, Tina Zawacki, Kelly C. Davis, William H. George, Diane M. Morrison, Michele R. Parkhill, Devon A. Abdallah

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

This experimental study examined effects of alcohol consumption and sexual sensation seeking on unprotected sex intentions, taking into account sexual arousal, indirectly discouraging sex, and condom insistence. Women (N = 173; mean age = 25.02) were randomly assigned to a control, placebo, low-dose beverage (target blood alcohol level = .04), or high- dose beverage (target blood alcohol level = .08) condition. Participants projected themselves into a hypothetical sexual interaction with a man in which no condom was available. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that both sexual sensation seeking and alcohol dose directly increased sexual arousal early in the interaction, but later sexual arousal indirectly increased unprotected sex intentions by decreasing endorsement of indirect discouragement and, in turn, condom insistence. These findings help to clarify the role of alcohol consumption and sensation seeking in women's sexual decision making and point to the importance of examining it as a multistage process.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)14-22
Number of pages9
JournalPsychology of Addictive Behaviors
Volume23
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • alcohol consumption
  • condom negotiation
  • risky sex
  • sensation seeking
  • sexual arousal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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