Harmful Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Sex Expectancies as Predictors of Risky Sex Among African American Female College Drinkers

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2018

Department

Psychology

Abstract

African American college women are experiencing sex-related negative consequences at alarming rates. Alcohol use and alcohol-related sex expectancies are predictors of risky sexual behavior among college women; however, African American college women are often underrepresented in empirical studies. The purpose of the present study was to examine the link between alcohol-related sex expectancies (i.e., enhancement, sexual risk taking, and disinhibition expectancies), alcohol use, and risky sexual behavior among a sample of 222 sexually active African American female college drinkers. Participants completed measures assessing alcohol-related sex expectancies, typical weekly drinking, harmful alcohol use, and risky sexual behavior. Results indicated that combined sexual risk taking and disinhibition alcohol-related sex expectancies predicted both typical weekly drinking and harmful alcohol use. In addition, enhancement alcohol-related sex expectancies and harmful alcohol use predicted risky sexual behavior; however, typical weekly drinking did not. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Publication Title

Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse

Volume

17

Issue

4

First Page

389

Last Page

400

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