Sexual behaviour under the influence of alcohol among Spanish adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20882/adicciones.72Keywords:
Alcohol use, sexual behaviour, HIV, consistent condom use, adolescenceAbstract
This paper aims to compare sexual behaviour and risk and protective factors between samples of adolescents who have sex under the influenceof alcohol and those who do not, and to determine predictors factors forhaving had sex under the influence of alcohol. We analysed differencesbetween these two groups in sexual practices, attitudes towards HIV, subjective norms and HIV knowledge. Drawing on survey data collectedfrom 1216 Spanish adolescents aged 14-18 (M = 15.92; SD = .76), a subset of 297 sexually experienced participants was selected. Of these,117 reported having had sex under the influence of alcohol in the pastsix months (51% girls). Adolescents who combined sex and alcohol engaged more in vaginal sex, oral sex and anal sex than those who didnot. Having had sex under the influence of alcohol in the past six monthswas associated with negative attitudes towards condom use, when thereare obstacles on using them, and less consistent condom use. Therewere no differences in knowledge about STIs/HIV between both groups.Adolescents who combined sex and alcohol showed further characteristicsassociated with sexual risk. Preventive measures must address the particular characteristics of this risk group. Further evidence is need aboutalcohol effects on sexual behaviour.References
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