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Alcohol consumption and sexual activity as reported with a diary technique
1Alcohol Research Group, Berkeley, California.
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
|August 1, 1993
Summary
Contrary to popular belief, alcohol does not consistently increase sexual activity. This study found alcohol consumption was linked to less sexual activity, not more, and did not affect risky sexual behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Alcohol is widely perceived as a sexual disinhibitor.
- Previous correlational studies lack control for individual differences influencing the alcohol-sex relationship.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and sexual behavior.
- To address limitations in prior research by using within-subjects analyses.
Main Methods:
- Utilized daily diary data from 99 participants over 10 weeks.
- Employed within-subjects analyses to examine drinking and sexual events.
- Controlled for individual differences through a repeated-measures design.
Main Results:
- Alcohol consumption was associated with a general decrease in sexual activity.
- No significant effect of alcohol consumption was found on the occurrence of AIDS-risk sexual behaviors.
- Individual differences did not mediate the observed relationship.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol consumption does not consistently enhance sexual activity.
- The findings challenge the common notion of alcohol as a universal sexual enhancer.
- Alcohol's impact on sexual behavior is complex and may not extend to risky sexual practices.