The use of drinking and condom-related protective strategies in association with condom use and sex-related alcohol use

Abstract

Approximately 40% of American college students engage in heavy drinking, and heavy drinking is associated with sexual risk behaviors. It is imperative to gain a better understanding of the relationship between alcohol and sexual risk behaviors for prevention efforts. This article examined the use of drinking and condom-related protective behavioral strategies (PBS) in relation to drinking and condom-use outcomes in 436 college students. Drinking PBS are related to drinking and negative alcohol-related consequences. Furthermore, condom-related PBS are related to condom use; however, it is unclear if drinking PBS are related to condom use, particularly condom use when drinking. It was hypothesized that the use of drinking PBS would be related to less alcohol-related sexual activity, that the use of condom-related PBS would be related to greater condom use and condom use while drinking, and that drinking PBS would be related to greater condom use, especially condom use when drinking. It was found that condom-related PBS were associated with condom behavior and drinking PBS were related to drinking behavior, but we did not find support for a relationship between drinking PBS and condom use. This suggests that condom-related PBS may be a more effective target for increasing condom use than drinking PBS alone.