Vélez-Blasini, C. J. (2008). Evidence against
alcohol as a proximal cause of sexual risk-taking among college students. Journal of Sex Research, 45(2),
118-128.
Studies have suggested that drinking leads to
promiscuity and sexual risk taking. This claim, however, has not remained
unchallenged, and several investigations have suggested this relationship may
be at best limited to a narrow band of sexual behavior or at worst entirely
spurious. An on-line survey about two discrete sexual events: one with
intercourse, one without college students (a smaller subsample was used to
examine crucial hypotheses) completed by 216 (148 female). Within-subjects
analyses yielded no evidence indicating that condom use was less prevalent
when alcohol was consumed regardless of relationship status (casual or
romantic partners). Alcohol was consumed more often during noncoital events. Among females, intercourse events
showed higher levels of arousal and perceived benefits and lower perceived
costs and internal conflict than noncoital events,
suggesting a rather rational decision-making process even when under the
influence. Stable personality and behavioral dimensions (sociosexuality,
impulsivity/sensation seeking, sociability, and usual drinking) provided a
better explanation for sexual risk taking than acute alcohol effects.