Binegativity, Childhood Maltreatment, Impulsivity, and Risky Behaviors Among Heavy Drinking Bisexual Women

Bisexual women report more alcohol use and sexual risk-taking than lesbian or heterosexual women. Few studies have examined the underlying mechanisms associating stress sources (binegativity, childhood trauma) with drinking and sexual risk-taking behaviors among bisexual women. Impulsivity may be one such mechanism. This study tested if impulsivity served as a mechanism between childhood trauma, binegativity, alcohol use, and sexual risk-taking. Participants (N = 225) were cisgender, heavy drinking, bisexual women ages 18-30 who completed an online survey. Results showed a significant indirect effect of binegativity on sexual risk-taking and alcohol use through impulsivity. This suggests that binegativity is associated with impulsivity, which is then associated with alcohol use and sexual risk-taking. Findings did not support a similar pathway for childhood trauma, suggesting binegativity may be a more salient risk factor. Interventions should focus on healthy coping, trauma-informed therapy, executive functioning training, personality-targeted strategies, and structural changes, (e.g. inclusive curricula and anti-discrimination laws).