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. 2024 Nov:120:35-40.
doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2023.12.005. Epub 2023 Dec 14.

Sexual alcohol expectancies moderate the relation between alcohol use and sexual behavior among men who have sex with men

Grace E Murray  1 , Tibor P Palfai  2 , Maya P L Kratzer  2 , Stephen A Maisto  3 , Jeffrey S Simons  4
Affiliations

Sexual alcohol expectancies moderate the relation between alcohol use and sexual behavior among men who have sex with men

Grace E Murray et al. Alcohol. 2024 Nov.

Abstract

Background: HIV transmission remains a significant health concern for men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. Heavy episodic drinking (HED) is related to increased rates of condomless anal intercourse (CAI) among MSM, though evidence suggests that this association may vary by individual difference factors. The present secondary analysis tested whether sexual alcohol expectancies (SAEs) moderate the associations between frequency of HED and anal intercourse (AI) with and without a condom among moderate-to-heavy drinking HIV- MSM.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-eight moderate-to-heavy drinking MSM completed self-report questionnaires including the Sexual Behavior Questionnaire, the Modified Daily Drinking Questionnaire, and the Sexual Alcohol Expectancies Questionnaire.

Results: Negative binomial regressions indicated that SAEs moderated the association between frequency of HED and AI with a condom, but not between the frequency of HED and condomless AI (CAI).

Conclusions: These results suggest that stronger SAEs play a role in alcohol-related sexual behavior among MSM, but do not provide evidence that SAEs are associated with increased risk for HIV transmission through CAI.

Keywords: MSM; alcohol; alcohol expectancies; condomless sex.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest None.

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