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Day-level associations among alcohol use, simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use, and both regretted and positive
Gabriela López1, Holly K Boyle2, Michelle Haikalis3
1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States; Department of Adult Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States; Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.
Background:
Young adults who drink heavily, including those who simultaneously use cannabis, experience both positive and regretted romantic/sexual experiences. Both gender and past sexual assault severity may also play a role in the valence of romantic/sexual experiences. The current study focuses on day-level correlates of romantic/sexual experiences, assessing whether: (1) number of drinks or simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use (vs. alcohol only) are associated with likelihood of regretted or positive romantic/sexual experiences and (2) past sexual assault severity or gender moderate these associations.
Methods:
Two hundred and one young adults (Mage = 22.06) reporting high intensity drinking (8+/10+ drinks for females/males) completed baseline and 28 daily assessments of alcohol use, simultaneous use, and romantic/sexual experiences.
Results:
Consumption of more drinks increased likelihood of both positive and regretted romantic/sexual experiences. Simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use had no effect on positive romantic/sexual experiences. There was a significant interaction between simultaneous use and gender in the prediction of a regretted romantic/sexual experience when controlling for number of drinks. Among women, simultaneous use (vs. alcohol only) significantly decreased likelihood of regretted romantic/sexual experiences. Among men, simultaneous use was unrelated to likelihood of regretted romantic/sexual experiences. Past sexual assault was not a significant moderator of effects of either number of drinks or simultaneous use.
Conclusions:
Among heavy-drinking young adults, a greater number of drinks is associated with both more regretted and positive romantic/sexual experiences. Findings highlight a unique protective effect of simultaneous use for women, even when controlling for how much alcohol is being consumed.
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