The Influence of Marijuana and Alcohol Use on Condom Use Behavior: Findings from a Sample of Young Adult Female Bar Drinkers

Overview

Journal Psychol Addict Behav

Publisher American Psychological Association

Specialties Psychiatry
Psychology

Date 2012 May 23

PMID 22612253

Citations 24

Authors

Kathleen A Parks

R Lorraine Collins

Jaye L Derrick

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Prevalence data indicate that alcohol and marijuana are frequently used intoxicants among young adults in the United States. In a number of studies, both alcohol use and marijuana use have been associated with failure to use condoms, a high-risk sexual behavior. The purpose of the current study was to assess the individual and additive effects of alcohol and marijuana use on this risky sexual behavior among 251 young adult, female bar drinkers. Multilevel modeling was used to assess the likelihood of condom use during sexual events that occurred as a function of substance use (none, only alcohol, only marijuana, or both) prior to and partner type (known or casual) during the event, as well as individual differences in sexual assertiveness. Initial model testing (Levels 1 and 2) revealed that there were significant main effects for partner type (known), substance use (alcohol and marijuana) and sexual assertiveness (refusal, pregnancy/STI prevention) on risky sex. Final model testing indicated that sexual assertiveness interacted with substance use to influence risky sex. Women who were low in sexual assertiveness refusal were more likely to engage in risky sex on days when they had consumed both alcohol and marijuana prior to the sexual activity. These findings highlight the complex nature of the relationship between substance use and risky sex.

Citing Articles

Contextualized Experiences and Predictors of Condom Use in a Flemish Population: A Mixed Methods Study.

Dewaele A, Koppen E, Van den Eynde S Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025; 21(12.

PMID: 39767386 PMC: 11675577. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21121545.

The impact of multiple-behavior HIV interventions as a function of regional disadvantages: An analysis of syndemics.

Chan M, Liu S, White B, Zhang A, Zhou Y, Leung M J Consult Clin Psychol. 2023; 91(10):574-595.

PMID: 37410398 PMC: 10527151. DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000827.

Mental health, substance use, and risky sexual behaviors among women living with HIV.

Deaterly C, Varma D, Li Y, Manavalan P, Cook R J Nurs Scholarsh. 2023; 55(3):751-760.

PMID: 37132071 PMC: 10626942. DOI: 10.1111/jnu.12900.

A cross-sectional study on alcohol and contraception use among sexually active women of childbearing age: Implications for preventing alcohol-exposed pregnancies.

Parackal S, Parackal M, Akhtar S Womens Health (Lond). 2023; 19:17455057231161479.

PMID: 36999316 PMC: 10071190. DOI: 10.1177/17455057231161479.

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Acculturation, and Risky Sexual Behaviors in Hispanic Young Adults: Findings from Project RED.

Rahman T, Rogers C, Albers L, Forster M, Unger J J Sex Res. 2023; 61(1):105-118.

PMID: 36877805 PMC: 10480355. DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2023.2184762.

References

Bailey S, Camlin C, Ennett S . Substance use and risky sexual behavior among homeless and runaway youth. J Adolesc Health. 1998; 23(6):378-88. PMC: 2882621. DOI: 10.1016/s1054-139x(98)00033-0. View

Simons J, Maisto S, Wray T . Sexual risk taking among young adult dual alcohol and marijuana users. Addict Behav. 2010; 35(5):533-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2009.12.026. View

Kingree J, Betz H . Risky sexual behavior in relation to marijuana and alcohol use among African-American, male adolescent detainees and their female partners. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2003; 72(2):197-203. DOI: 10.1016/s0376-8716(03)00196-0. View

Schroder K, Johnson C, Wiebe J . An event-level analysis of condom use as a function of mood, alcohol use, and safer sex negotiations. Arch Sex Behav. 2007; 38(2):283-9. DOI: 10.1007/s10508-007-9278-9. View

Morokoff P, Quina K, Harlow L, Whitmire L, Grimley D, Gibson P . Sexual Assertiveness Scale (SAS) for women: development and validation. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1997; 73(4):790-804. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.73.4.790. View

Stoner S, Norris J, George W, Morrison D, Zawacki T, Davis K . Women's condom use assertiveness and sexual risk-taking: effects of alcohol intoxication and adult victimization. Addict Behav. 2008; 33(9):1167-76. PMC: 2527593. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.04.017. View

Lauby J, Semaan S, OConnell A, Person B, Vogel A . Factors related to self-efficacy for use of condoms and birth control among women at risk for HIV infection. Women Health. 2001; 34(3):71-91. DOI: 10.1300/J013v34n03_05. View

Brown J, Vanable P . Alcohol use, partner type, and risky sexual behavior among college students: Findings from an event-level study. Addict Behav. 2007; 32(12):2940-52. PMC: 2673796. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2007.06.011. View

Bramness J, Khiabani H, Morland J . Impairment due to cannabis and ethanol: clinical signs and additive effects. Addiction. 2010; 105(6):1080-7. DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.02911.x. View

10.

Lescano C, Vazquez E, Brown L, Litvin E, Pugatch D . Condom use with "casual" and "main" partners: what's in a name?. J Adolesc Health. 2006; 39(3):443.e1-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.01.003. View

11.

Heishman S, Arasteh K, Stitzer M . Comparative effects of alcohol and marijuana on mood, memory, and performance. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1997; 58(1):93-101. DOI: 10.1016/s0091-3057(96)00456-x. View

12.

Morokoff P, Redding C, Harlow L, Cho S, Rossi J, Meier K . Associations of Sexual Victimization, Depression, and Sexual Assertiveness with Unprotected Sex: A Test of the Multifaceted Model of HIV Risk Across Gender. J Appl Biobehav Res. 2014; 14(1):30-54. PMC: 4091996. DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-9861.2009.00039.x. View

13.

Crosby R, DiClemente R, Wingood G, Harrington K, Davies S, Hook 3rd E . Predictors of infection with Trichomonas vaginalis: a prospective study of low income African-American adolescent females. Sex Transm Infect. 2002; 78(5):360-4. PMC: 1744539. DOI: 10.1136/sti.78.5.360. View

14.

Leigh B, Vanslyke J, Hoppe M, Rainey D, Morrison D, Gillmore M . Drinking and condom use: results from an event-based daily diary. AIDS Behav. 2007; 12(1):104-12. PMC: 2268630. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-007-9216-9. View

15.

Leigh B, Temple M, Trocki K . The relationship of alcohol use to sexual activity in a U.S. national sample. Soc Sci Med. 1994; 39(11):1527-35. DOI: 10.1016/0277-9536(94)90004-3. View

16.

Anderson B, Stein M . A behavioral decision model testing the association of marijuana use and sexual risk in young adult women. AIDS Behav. 2010; 15(4):875-84. PMC: 2916938. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-010-9694-z. View

17.

Haney M, Ward A, Comer S, Foltin R, FISCHMAN M . Abstinence symptoms following smoked marijuana in humans. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1999; 141(4):395-404. DOI: 10.1007/s002130050849. View

18.

Mundt J, Perrine M, Searles J . Individual differences in alcohol responsivity: physiological, psychomotor and subjective response domains. J Stud Alcohol. 1997; 58(2):130-40. DOI: 10.15288/jsa.1997.58.130. View

19.

Ramaekers J, Robbe H, OHanlon J . Marijuana, alcohol and actual driving performance. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2002; 15(7):551-558. DOI: 10.1002/1099-1077(200010)15:7<551::AID-HUP236>3.0.CO;2-P. View

20.

Naranjo C, Bremner K . Behavioural correlates of alcohol intoxication. Addiction. 1993; 88(1):25-35. View