Content uploaded by Michael Perko
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Michael Perko
Content may be subject to copyright.
SELF-REPORTED ALCOHOL USE AND SEXUAL BEHAVIORS OF ADOLESCENTS'
By: Michael S. Dunn, R. Todd Bartee, Michael A. Perko
Dunn, M. S., Bartee, R. T., & Perko, M. A. (2003). Self-reported alcohol use and sexual behaviors of
adolescents. Psychological Reports, 92, 339-348.
Made available courtesy of Ammons Scientific: http://www.ammonsscientific.com/
*** Note: Figures may be missing from this format of the document
Abstract:
Summary: Research has demonstrated a relation between alcohol use and engaging in high-risk sexual
behaviors. Alcohol use, especially binge drinking, has been linked to a host of problems including high-risk
sexual behavior, date rape, and academic problems. As such, the purpose of this study was to provide a
descriptive profile of alcohol consumption among adolescents and to examine the relations of alcohol use
(lifetime, current, binge) with sexual activity variables (sexual initiation, multiple sex partners, condom use, and
pregnancy) among adolescents completing the 1993-1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Analysis showed
alcohol use was associated with high-risk sexual activity. Binge drinking had stronger relations with sexual
activity variables than lifetime use and current use of alcohol. This result is of particular concern, in that binge
drinking has been implicated in many problem behaviors. As such, it is of great importance to intervene in the
high-risk practices of adolescents before problems occur.
Article:
Alcohol use in the adolescent population persists and is a major health concern yet to be dealt with effectively.
According to the Monitoring the Future Study, 46% of eighth graders, 65% of tenth graders, and 75% of twelfth
graders reported annual alcohol use. Also, this study found that 25% of eighth graders, 40% of tenth graders,
and 53% of twelfth graders reported 30 days alcohol use, and 15% of eighth graders, 25% of tenth graders, and
31% of twelfth graders had engaged in binge drinking during the past two weeks (Johnston, O'Malley, &
Bachman, 1998).
Binge drinking, the consumption of five or more drinks in a row during the past two weeks by males and four or
more drinks in a row for females, has been linked to a host of problems including risky sexual behavior, date
rape, academic problems, and automobile accidents (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1996). The practice of
binge drinking tends to impair judgment and makes one susceptible to problematic behaviors. The issue of
impaired judgment highlights binge drinking as an important risk factor in the prevention of morbidity and
mortality in the United States (McGinnis & Foege, 1993; Kann, Kinchen, & Williams, 1998; Nagy & Dunn,
1999).
Empirical research has yielded relations between alcohol use and high-risk sexual behaviors (Sikkema, Willett,
& Lombard, 1995; Santelli, 1998, Duncan, Strycker, & Duncan, 1999; Nagy & Dunn, 1999). These behaviors
include multiple sex partners, lack of condom use, and early sexual initiation. The National Center on Addiction
and Substance Abuse showed students who reported having had a drink were seven times more likely than
nondrinkers to have had sexual intercourse (1999). For many adolescents, sexual contact appears to occur after
drinking, and the use of alcohol reduces the likelihood of engaging in safer sexual practices (Duncan & Dun-
can, 1996; Kinsmen, Romer, Furstenberg, & Schwarz, 1998). Castilla, Barrio, Belza, and de la Fuente (1999)
reported failure to use a condom during intercourse was more frequent among heavy drinkers compared to light
or nondrinkers. As such, this behavior puts the adolescent at risk for sexually transmitted diseases, one of which
is the fatal HIV infection. Other studies have yielded similar results as heavy drinkers were more likely to
engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, such as multiple partners and lack of condom use compared to light
drinkers (Tubman, Windle, & Windle, 1996; Derman, Cooper, & Agocha, 1998; Bailey, Pollock, Martin, &
Lynch, 1999). Alcohol intoxication may influence HIV-relevant sexual practices by impairing sound judgment.
With judgment impaired, an individual may engage in risky behaviors such as having multiple sex partners and
not using a condom, which can increase the probability of HIV exposure. As such, it is not the initiation of
alcohol use that is problematic, but the misuse of alcohol that facilitates problem behaviors.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, misuse of alcohol and other drugs and high-risk
sexual activity are two categories that significantly affect morbidity and mortality in the United States (1998).
The literature tends to find a strong association between alcohol use/abuse and high-risk sexual behavior but
more needs to be known about this relation. Few studies have examined lifetime alcohol use, current drinking,
and binge drinking, and the relation of these behaviors with sexual initiation, multiple partners, condom use,
and pregnancy.
The purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive profile of alcohol consumption patterns among
adolescents completing the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) from 1993-1999 and also to examine the
relation between alcohol use measures and sexual activity variables.
METHOD
Subjects and Response Information
The purpose of the survey is to provide a descriptive profile of adolescent risk behavior in the United States.
Data were collected during 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1999. The survey for all years included a 3-stage cluster
sampling design. The first stage included large counties or groups of smaller, adjacent counties. The second
stage included schools, and the third consisted of classes. The sample was nationally representative of students
in Grades 9 through 12. Schools with substantial numbers of African-American and His-panic students were
sampled at relatively higher rates than all other schools.
All students in selected classes were eligible to participate. In addition, in 1997 and 1999, a small number of
Primary Sampling Units (PSUs), with very large enrollment, selected with certainty were recoded as their own
strata. The sampled schools within the strata created from "certainty PSUs" were then treated as PSUs within
those strata.
The survey procedures were designed to protect students' privacy and allow anonymous participation. Trained
data collectors administered the questionnaire in the classrooms, and students recorded responses on computer
scannable answer sheets. Parental consent was obtained prior to survey administration.
The 1993 survey consisted of 87 items and had an overall response rate of 70%. The school response rate was
78%, and the student response rate was 90%. All totaled, 16,269 questionnaires were completed in 155 schools.
The 1995 survey consisted of 88 items. The school response rate was 70%, and the student response rate was
86%. All totaled, 10,904 questionnaires were completed in 110 schools. The overall response rate was 60%.
The 1997 school response rate was 79.1%, and the student response rate was 87.2%. All totaled, 16,262
questionnaires were completed in 151 schools. The overall response rate was 68.9%. The 1997 survey consisted
of 89 items. The 1999 survey consisted of 92 items and had an overall response rate of 66%. The school
response rate was 77%, and the student response rate was 86%. All totaled, 15,349 questionnaires were
completed in 144 schools.
Measures and Procedure
For this study three alcohol consumption variables (lifetime alcohol use, current alcohol use, and current binge
drinking) were dependent variables. Lifetime alcohol use was judged by response to the question, "During your
life, on how many days have you had at least one drink of alcohol?" The variable current alcohol use was based
on the question, "During the past 30 days, on how many days did you have at least one drink of alcohol?" Cur-
rent binge drinking was indicated on the item, "During the past 30 days, on how many days did you have five or
more drinks of alcohol in a row, that is, within a couple of hours?" The three dependant variables were
dichotomized so students reporting "0 days" were classified as nondrinkers; all other responses were classified
as drinkers.
The independent variables included demographic variables of sex, grade in school, and race, as well as included
items related to sexual behavior. Initiation of sexual intercourse was based on the question, "How old were you
when you had sexual intercourse for the first time?" Number of sex partners was given to the question, "During
your life, with how many people have you had sexual intercourse?" Condom use was assessed on the question,
"The last time you had sexual intercourse, did you or your partner use a condom?" The last independent variable
to be used was number of pregnancies given in response to "How many times have you been pregnant or gotten
someone pregnant?" All sexual variables were dichotomized into yes/ no categories.
All analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows 10.0. Each year's data were analyzed separately (1993,
1995, 1997, and 1999). Logistic regression models were used to examine the relation between alcohol
consumption and sexual behaviors for the year 1999. Models were run separately for each dependent variable of
alcohol consumption. Odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and variance were calculated for each model.
RESULTS
Table 1 shows demographic data across the four time periods. Euro-Americans constituted the largest sample
across the four time periods (on average 41%), and African Americans was the second largest group followed
by Hispanics (on average 30.3% and 27.7%). Since these three groups made up the majority of the sample, no
other racial groups were included in the analysis. The sample was approximately equal between males and
females, and most students were 17 years old and in the 12th grade across the four time periods.
Table 2 shows alcohol use behavior by sex over the four time periods. Lifetime alcohol use ranged from 77.7%
to 81.8% across time with a greater number of males using alcohol. Male lifetime use was 81.8% in 1993 and
81.4% in 1995. This level decreased to 78.8% in 1997, followed by a slight increase in 1999 (79.9%). Female
lifetime use remained fairly stable between 1993 and 1997 (78.4%, 77.7%, 77.8%), followed by an increase in
1999 (79.8%). Lifetime alcohol use rates between males and females were almost equal for 1997 and 1999.
An examination of binge drinking patterns showed different profiles for males and females. Among males, rates
decreased by nearly 4% between 1995 and 1999 (35.3%, 31.9%), whereas female rates remained stable during
the same time period. Thirty-two percent of males and 24% of females answered "yes" to the binge-drinking
item in 1999. This trend of decreased use was similar in regards to current use of alcohol, with males' "yes"
response rate decreasing between 1995 and 1999 (53.5%, 51.1%, and 49.6%), whereas females' current use
remained fairly consistent across the three time periods (46.9%, 45.2%, and 45.2%).
An examination of sexual behavior items showed different patterns among males and females. In 1993, 62% of
males and 51.6% of females had initiated sexual intercourse, while 15.4% and 19.3°A, respectively, for males
and females had one sexual partner and 46.7% and 32.4%, respectively, for males and females had more than
one sexual partner. Thirty-seven percent of males and 24.8% of females had used a condom during last
intercourse, while 5.2% of males and 8.2% of females had indicated getting someone pregnant or being
pregnant at least once.
Changes in self-reported behavior were more evident in females than males between 1993 and 1995. Female
rates increased by approximately 5% points for sexual initiation (56.6%), having multiple sex partners (37%),
and condom use (29.9%). In 1997, prevalence rates decreased by 6% points for females on sexual initiation and
multiple partners and decreased by 4% points for males on sexual initiation and 5% points for multiple partners.
In 1999, 59.1% of males and 49.2% of females had initiated sexual intercourse, while 44.1% and 29.9%,
respectively, for males and females had more than one sexual partner. This indicated a slight increase in these
two behaviors for males between 1997 and 1999 and slight decrease for females. Thirty-nine percent of males
and 27% of females reported using a condom during last intercourse (2.2% increase for males) while 4.5% of
males and 7.0% of females had indicated getting someone pregnant or being pregnant at least once.
Separate logistic regression analysis using lifetime alcohol use, current alcohol use, and binge drinking as the
dependent measure were conducted with sexual behavior measures as the independent variables to identify the
relations among behaviors in 1999 (see Table 4). Lifetime alcohol use was significantly associated with grade,
race, sexual initiation, number of partners, and condom use. Similar results were found for current alcohol use,
with grade, race, sexual initiation, multiple partners, and condom use being significantly associated. Euro-
American students were more likely to report current drinking than African Americans and Hispanics in 1999,
and current users were more likely to have initiated sexual behavior, have multiple sex partners, and less likely
to use a condom. The variance explained 14.3% of the relations between current alcohol use and demographic
and sexual activity behaviors.
Binge drinking was significantly associated with sex, grade, race, sexual initiation, multiple partners, and
condom use. Those reporting binge drinking were also more likely to report initiation of sexual behavior,
having multiple sex partners, and less likelihood of using a condom. The model explained 17.8% of the relation
for binge drinking with demographic data and sexual activity behaviors. Similar relations were found for
lifetime alcohol use, current use, and binge drinking and sexual behavior variables for 1993, 1995, and 1997.
DISCUSSION
The purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive profile of alcohol consumption patterns among
adolescents and to examine the relations of alcohol use (lifetime, current, binge) with sexual activity variables
(sexual initiation, multiple sex partners, condom use, and pregnancy). Analysis showed that alcohol use was
associated with high-risk sexual activity. Binge drinking had stronger relations with sexual activity variables
(sexual initiation, multiple sex partners, condom use, pregnancy) than lifetime use and current use of alcohol.
This result is of particular concern, in that binge drinking has been implicated in many problem behaviors.
These results seem to indicate that development of alcohol-use patterns are related to risky sexual behavior. As
alcohol use increased, so did high-risk sexual behavior, with binge drinkers claiming higher prevalence of
sexual initiation, multiple sex partners, lack of condom use, and pregnancy (see Table 5). Other researchers
have reported similar findings, in that heavy drinkers were more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors
(Fergusson, Horwood, & Lynsey, 1994; Leigh & Schafer, 1994; Santelli, 1998; Duncan, et al., 1999). The
present data were collected from adolescents under the age of 21, indicating that many of these patterns develop
well before the legal age limit for drinking. Studies have indicated that early alcohol use is related to increased
alcohol-related problems, including alcoholism and high-risk sexual behaviors (Gruber, DiClemente, Anderson,
& Lodico, 1996; Hampson, Severson, Burns, Slovic, & Fisher, 2001). As such, this earlier experimentation of
alcohol use may place an adolescent at risk for pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and the fatal HIV
infection. Thus, from a public health perspective it is of great importance to prevent underage drinking and
especially binge drinking. As this study has indicated, binge drinking is associated with high-risk sexual
behaviors, the results of which will place a tremendous burden on the public health care system.
The association between alcohol and risky sexual behavior may be explained through the age-host-environment
model. Alcohol may impair judgment, especially in large amounts, and cause a variety of problems. Also, a
youth's personal characteristics, e.g., a risk-taking personality, and social environment, e.g., peers, family,
media, may put that youth at risk for inappropriate alcohol use and be followed by high-risk sexual behaviors.
A developmental perspective may be best to explain why some adolescents initiate alcohol use. It seems
reasonable to assume that adolescents will experiment with alcohol. Therefore, social norms may be a better
perspective to explain alcohol use among adolescents. Studies have indicated that most adolescents believe their
friends use alcohol (Simon-Morton, Haynie, Crump, Saylor, Eitel, & Yu, 1999; Werch, Pappas, Carlson,
Edgemon, Sinder, & DiClemente, 2000). Given perceived peer prevalence of alcohol use, adolescents may
engage in heavy alcohol use.
Additional research is needed to clarify the role of alcohol consumption and the co-occurrence of other high-
risk behaviors, specifically as related to social norms and the developmental perspective. The question to be
answered is whether social norms or developmental experimentation are more strongly associated with alcohol
use. Research is needed to establish a clearer understanding of what underlies problem behaviors such as binge
drinking and high-risk sexual behavior. Also, it is important to consider other factors that may contribute to
high-risk sexual behavior by adolescents such as peer norms, attitudes, expectancies, family influence, and the
environment.
REFERENCES
BAILEY, S., POLLOCK, N., MARTIN, C., & LYNCH, K. (1999) Risky sexual behavior among adolescents
with alcohol use disorders. Journal of Adolescent Health, 25, 179-1.81.
CASTILLA, J., BARRIO, M., BELZA, M., & DE LA FUENTE, L. (1999) Drugs and alcohol consumption and
risk behavior among young adults: results from a national survey. Drugs and Alcohol Dependence, 56, 47-53.
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. (1998) Youth Risk Behavior surveillance,
United States, 1997. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 47(SS-.3).
DERMAN, K., COOPER, M., &AGOCHA, V. (1998) Sex-related alcohol expectancies as moderators of the
use relationship between alcohol use and risky sex in adolescents. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 59, 71-77.
DUNC.AN, S., & DUNCAN, T (1996) A multivariate latent growth curve analysis of adolescent substance use.
Structural Equation Modeling, 3, 323-347.
DUNCAN, S., STRYCKER, L., &DUNCAN, T. (1999) Exploring associations in developmental trends of
adolescent substance use and risky sexual behavior in a high-risk population. Journal of Behavioral Medicine,
22, 21-33.
FERGUSSON, D., HORWOOD, L., &LYNSEY, M. (1994) The comorbidities of adolescent problem
behaviors: a latent class model. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 22, 339-354.
GRUBER, E., DICLEMENTE, R., ANDERSON, M., & LODICO, M. (1996) Early drinking onset and its
association with alcohol use and problem behavior in late adolescence. Preventive Medicine, 25, 293-300.
HAMPSON, S., SEVERSON, H., BURNS, W, Slovic, P., & FISHER, K. (2001) Risk perception, personality
factors and alcohol use among adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 167-181.
JOHNSTON, L., O'MALLET, P, & BACHMAN, . (1998) National/ survey results on drug use from monitoring
the future study, 1997-1997. (NIH publication No. 98-4345) Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing
Office.
KANN, L., KINCHEN, S., &WILLIAMS, B. (1998) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 1997.
MAI WR CDC Surveillance Summary, 47(SS-3):1.
KINSMEN, S., ROMER, D., FURSTENBERG, F., & SCHWARZ, D. (1998) Early sexual initiation: the role of
peer norms. Pediatrics, 102, 1185-1192.
LEIGH, B., & SCHAFER, . (1994) Heavy drinking occasions and the occurrence of sexual activity. Psychology
and Addictive Behavior, 7, 197-200.
MCGINNIS, ., & FOEGE, W (1993) Actual alcohol deaths in the United States. Journal of the American
Medical Association, 270, 2208-2212.
NAGY, S., & DUNN, M. (1999) Alcohol behavior and deviant behaviors among adolescents in a rural state.
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 44, 1-9.
NATIONAL CENTER ON ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. (1999) Dangerous liaisons: substance
abuse and sex. New York: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia Univer.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE. (1996) 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.
Rockville, MD: Author.
SANTELLI, J. (1998) Multiple sexual partners among U.S. adolescents and young adults. Family Planning
Perspectives, 30, 271-273.
SIKKEMA, K., WINETT, R., & LOMBARD, D. (1995) Development and evaluation of an HIV-risk reduction
program for female college students. AIDS Education and Prevention, 7, 145- 159.
SIMON-MORTON, B., HAYNIE, D., CRUMP, A., SAYLOR, K., EITEL, P, &YU, K. (1999) Expectancies
and other psychological factors associated with alcohol use among early adolescent boys and girls. Addictive
Behavior, 24, 229-238.
TUBMAN, J., WINDLE, M., & WINDLE, R. (1996) Cumulative sexual intercourse patterns among
adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 18, 182-191.
WERCH, C., PAPPAS, D., CARLSON, J., EDGEMON, P., SINDER, J., & DICLEMENTE, C. (2000)
Evaluation of a brief alcohol prevention program for urban school youth. American Journal of Health Behavior,
24, 120-131.
