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. 2018 Oct-Dec;17(4):389-400.
doi: 10.1080/15332640.2016.1255580. Epub 2017 Feb 6.

Harmful alcohol use and alcohol-related sex expectancies as predictors of risky sex among african american female college drinkers

Danielle P Cottonham  1 , Michael B Madson  1 , Bonnie C Nicholson  1 , Richard S Mohn  1
Affiliations

Harmful alcohol use and alcohol-related sex expectancies as predictors of risky sex among african american female college drinkers

Danielle P Cottonham et al. J Ethn Subst Abuse. 2018 Oct-Dec.

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.

Keywords: African American college women; alcohol use; alcohol-related sex expectancies; risky sexual behavior.

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