Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2025

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
Published on: April 28, 2022
Sexual alcohol expectancies moderate the relation between alcohol use and sexual behavior among men who have sex with
Grace E Murray1, Tibor P Palfai1, Maya P L Kratzer1
1Boston University, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston, MA, United States.
Background:
HIV transmission remains a significant health concern for men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. Heavy episodic drinking (HED) is related to increased rates of condomless anal intercourse (CAI) among MSM, though evidence suggests that this association may vary by individual difference factors. The present secondary analysis tested whether sexual alcohol expectancies (SAEs) moderate the associations between frequency of HED and anal intercourse (AI) with and without a condom among moderate-to-heavy drinking HIV- MSM.
Methods:
Two hundred and forty-eight moderate-to-heavy drinking MSM completed self-report questionnaires including the Sexual Behavior Questionnaire, the Modified Daily Drinking Questionnaire, and the Sexual Alcohol Expectancies Questionnaire.
Results:
Negative binomial regressions indicated that SAEs moderated the association between frequency of HED and AI with a condom, but not between the frequency of HED and condomless AI (CAI).
Conclusions:
These results suggest that stronger SAEs play a role in alcohol-related sexual behavior among MSM, but do not provide evidence that SAEs are associated with increased risk for HIV transmission through CAI.
Related Concept Videos
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Hypothesis Test for Test of Independence
H0: The two variables (factors)...
Surveys
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping

