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

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 meth...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIDS and behavior 2016-01, Vol.20 (Suppl 1), p.19-39
Main Authors: Scott-Sheldon, Lori A. J., Carey, Kate B., Cunningham, Karlene, Johnson, Blair T., Carey, Michael P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Adolescent
AIDS
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects
Alcohol Drinking - psychology
Alcohol use
Alcoholic beverages
Alcohols
Arousal
Causality
Consumption
Decision analysis
Decision Making
Drinking behavior
Experimental methods
Female
Health Psychology
HIV
HIV Infections - prevention & control
HIV Infections - transmission
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Infectious Diseases
Intention
Literature reviews
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Meta-analysis
Myopia
Original Paper
Public Health
Risk
Risk taking
Sex
Sexual arousal
Sexual behavior
Sexual Behavior - psychology
Sexually transmitted diseases
STD
Systematic review
Unsafe Sex - psychology
Young Adult
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1090-7165
1573-3254
DOI:10.1007/s10461-015-1108-9