Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Sexual Behaviour in a New Zealand University Community

• NCJ Number: 220806
• Journal: Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 26 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2007 Pages: 645-651
• Author(s): Martine L. Cashell-Smith; Jennie L. Connor; Kypros Kypri
• Date Published: November 2007
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This study examined and estimated the prevalence and correlates of alcohol-related risky and unwanted sexual experiences.

Abstract

Study findings indicated that more male than female students reported risky sexual behavior as a result of drinking, but that might have been due to differences in age, ethnicity, type of residence, and drinking status of the two groups. In contrast, sexual assaults and unwanted sexual advances as a result of others’ drinking alcohol were more likely to be reported by female students. Hazardous drinkers were nearly five times more likely than moderate drinkers to experience risky sexual behavior as a result of drinking alcohol, with harmful drinkers being nine times more likely to experience risky sexual behavior. Interventions to reduce alcohol-related risky sexual behaviors should target both male and female drinkers and identifiable subgroups at higher risk; prevention policy should also address the high levels of availability and promotion of alcohol in the campus environment. A Web-based survey was conducted of a random sample of university students asking about specific experiences resulting from their own drinking or the drinking of others, and some beliefs about drinking. A total of 1,564 students responded and the following attitudes were reported by women and men regarding their drinking in the previous 3 months: one-quarter of the university students sampled reported risky sexual behavior as a result of drinking alcohol (11 percent of women and 15 percent of men reported unprotected sex, 6 percent of women and 7 percent of men reported sex they were not happy with at the time, and 16 percent of women and 19 percent of men reported having sex that they later regretted); and almost one-third (34 percent of women and 25 percent of men) reported experiencing an unwanted sexual advance as a result of others’ drinking alcohol. Moreover, 1 percent of women and 0.5 percent of men reported sexual assault in the past 4 weeks. Tables, references