The Relationships among Alcohol Use, Sex-Related Alcohol Expectancies, and Incapacitated Sex

Abstract

Numerous studies have examined the role that alcohol use can play in leading to not only sexual behavior but also to potential risky decision making in such situations (Cooper, 2002). This study sought to extend existing research by examining the role that typical drinking, drinking in sexual contexts, and sex-related alcohol expectancies can play in incapacitated sex among a community sample of 309 women. These women both identified as social drinkers and screened in with at least one binge-drinking episode in the past month. It was hypothesized that drinking in sexual situations would mediate the relationship between typical drinking and incapacitated sex. It was further hypothesized that drinking in sexual situations would mediate the relationship between sex-related alcohol expectancies and incapacitated sex. Results confirmed that drinking in sexual situations was a mediator for both typical drinking and sex-related alcohol expectancies in terms of incapacitated sex. These results hold implications for intervention programming related to expectancies and drinking as well emphasize the need for future research into further risk factors related to incapacitated sex.