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Meta-Analysis
. 2016 Jan;20 Suppl 1(0 1):S19-39.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-015-1108-9.

Alcohol Use Predicts Sexual Decision-Making: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Experimental Literature

Lori A J Scott-Sheldon  1   2   3 , Kate B Carey  4 , Karlene Cunningham  5   6   7 , Blair T Johnson  8 , Michael P Carey  5   6   9 ; MASH Research Team
Collaborators, Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Alcohol Use Predicts Sexual Decision-Making: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Experimental Literature

Lori A J Scott-Sheldon et al. AIDS Behav. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

Alcohol is associated with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections through increased sexual risk-taking behavior. Establishing a causal link between alcohol and sexual behavior has been challenging due to methodological limitations (e.g., reliance on cross-sectional designs). Experimental methods can be used to establish causality. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of alcohol consumption on unprotected sex intentions. We searched electronic bibliographic databases for records with relevant keywords; 26 manuscripts (k = 30 studies) met inclusion criteria. Results indicate that alcohol consumption is associated with greater intentions to engage in unprotected sex (d +s = 0.24, 0.35). The effect of alcohol on unprotected sex intentions was greater when sexual arousal was heightened. Alcohol consumption is causally linked to theoretical antecedents of sexual risk behavior, consistent with the alcohol myopia model. Addressing alcohol consumption as a determinant of unprotected sex intentions may lead to more effective HIV interventions.

Keywords: Alcohol; Experimental methods; Meta-analysis; Sexual behavior; Unprotected sex.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study Selection and Retrieve Process for the Meta-Analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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