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from Medical Issues
Study Evaluates Alcohol Consumption And
Social Context In Seronegative Gay Males
November 22, 2004 - A team of researchers recently published their
findings on the effect that alcohol use has on rates of unsafe sex among
seronegative gay males in Health Psychology (Vol. 23, No. 5, September, 2004).
Writing in "Alcohol Use And High-Risk Sexual Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex
With Men: The Effects Of Consumption Level And Partners," the researchers tested
a hypothesis that "social context would moderate the effect of alcohol
consumption on unprotected anal sex (UAS).
The researchers noted that 42% of all new HIV infections in the U.S. are among
MSM (Men who have sex with Men)--more than any other group. In addition, there is
a resurgence of unsafe sexual practices resulting in increased spread of STDs
and HIV infection among gay males.
They observe: "... empirical findings indicate that heavy drinkers are more likely
to engage in sexual risk taking but provide little basis for assuming a direct
causal association between alcohol use and risky sexual behavior."
In this study, they hypothesized that alcohol use would be more common for
sexual encounters involving nonprimary sexual partners rather than primary
partners. Gays are more motivated to drink as a way of reducing tension and
stress as they engage in sex with nonprimary partners. As predicted, alcohol use
was more than twice as likely for sexual episodes involving nonprimary partners.
In addition, they found that men whose recent sexual encounter was with a
primary partner was more likely to have engaged in UAS than those whose recent
experience was with a nonprimary partner. The researchers theorized that
individuals in a primary relationship have decided to forgo condom use as a
"reasoned decision, as when known seronegative partners adopt a 'negotiated
safety' agreement to forgo condom use in the relationship and avoid risk with
other partners."
They conclude with the following observation: "Ultimately, by identifying
individual and situational factors that determine both the extent of substance
use in sexual settings and the degree to which substance abuse leads to sexual
risk, researchers will be better equipped to design tailored interventions that
effectively reduce substance-related sexual risk-taking behaviors."
Updated: 25 February 2008
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