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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Mar;29(3):896-905.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-024-04573-y. Epub 2024 Dec 14.

Causal Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Condom Negotiation Skills of Women with Varying Sexual Assault Histories

Tina Zawacki  1 , Terue T Vela  2 , Sarah E Harper  2 , Katie M Jackel  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Causal Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Condom Negotiation Skills of Women with Varying Sexual Assault Histories

Tina Zawacki et al. AIDS Behav. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Sexual assault victimization experience and alcohol consumption are well-documented HIV risk factors for women who have sex with men (WSM). Nonetheless, behavioral mechanisms of the synergistic effects of these factors on women's increased HIV risk are not well delineated. This study is the first to examine the interactive effects of sexual assault history and acute intoxication on women's condom negotiation behavior during a face-to-face role-play with a male actor. Participants were female, single, social drinkers, ages 21 to 35, recruited from the community. Women were categorized as having experienced past sexual assault victimization or not based on their questionnaire responses, then were randomly assigned to consume either no alcohol or alcohol (0.08 target BAC) and engaged in a role-play with a male actor that included condom use negotiation. Participants' verbal, paraverbal, and nonverbal behavior was video recorded and coded by independent raters. As hypothesized, sexual assault history interacted with alcohol condition to significantly influence participants' assertive condom negotiation behavior. These results further our scientific understanding of how intoxication may exacerbate the relationship between sexual assault history and HIV risk, and can inform prevention programs tailored to the unique needs of WSM who have a history of sexual assault victimization and are social drinkers.

Keywords: Alcohol; Condom use; HIV risk behavior; Sexual assault; Women who have sex with men.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors have no financial or non-financial interests to disclose that are directly or indirectly related to this work submitted for publication.

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