An Experimental Investigation of the Interactive Effects of Alcohol and Sexual Arousal on Intentions to Have Unprotected Sex

Ebel-Lam, Anna; MacDonald, Tara K.; Zanna, Mark P.; Fong, Geoffrey T.

doi:10.1080/01973530903058383

Cited by 26 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…As hypothesized, subjective sexual arousal was positively associated with unprotected vaginal sex intentions, supporting prior research (Ebel-Lam, MacDonald, Zanna, & Fong, 2009; George, Cue Davis, et al, 2009). However, AA was unrelated to intentions, suggesting that exercise-induced myopia may be specific to aggression (Giancola & Corman, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Effects of alcohol intoxication and autonomic arousal on delay discounting and risky sex in young adult heterosexual men

Wray

Simons

Maisto

2015

Addictive Behaviors

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Objectives The relationship between alcohol use and risky sexual behavior is complex and depends on psychological and environmental factors. The alcohol myopia model predicts that, due to alcohol’s impact on attention, the behavior of intoxicated individuals will become increasingly directed by salient cues. Autonomic arousal (AA) may have a similar effect on attention. Experiential delay discounting (DD) may be increased by both alcohol consumption and AA due to their common effects and may mediate the relationship between these conditions and risky sex. Methods This study employed a 3 (alcohol, placebo, control) x 2 (high, low arousal) experimental design to examine the effects of acute alcohol intoxication and AA on experiential delay discounting, subjective sexual arousal, and risky sex. Results Path models revealed complex results that only partially supported study hypotheses. Ratings of subjective sexual arousal did not differ across either beverage or arousal conditions. DD was also unrelated to any study variable. However, subjective sexual arousal was positively related to risky sexual intentions. Alcohol intoxication was also positively associated with increased unprotected sex intentions, consistent with past studies. Conclusions These results affirm the role of subjective sexual arousal and alcohol intoxication in risky sexual decision-making, yielding effect sizes similar to comparable past studies. Lack of differences across autonomic arousal groups also suggests effects of attentional myopia may be behavior-specific. Failure to replicate effects of alcohol intoxication on DD also suggests reservation regarding its involvement in alcohol-involved risky sex.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Effects of alcohol intoxication and autonomic arousal on delay discounting and risky sex in young adult heterosexual men

Wray

Simons

Maisto

2015

Addictive Behaviors

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“…All of these studies were conducted with heterosexual participants. Ebel-Lam, MacDonald, Zanna, and Fong (2009) investigated the effects of a moderate dose of alcohol and sexual arousal (manipulated through having participants read an erotic magazine story) on male undergraduates’ intentions of having unprotected sex with an attractive partner acting in a video depicting a common sexual-risk situation that a single young adult might encounter. This experiment’s results were consistent with a synergistic effect between alcohol intoxication and arousal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Alcohol and Sexual Arousal on Determinants of Sexual Risk in Men Who Have Sex with Men

et al. 2011

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Primary prevention efforts aimed at sexual risk behaviors are critical. This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of alcohol intoxication and sexual arousal, as well as person variables of alcohol sex expectancies and attitudes toward condom use, on hypothesized determinants of sexual risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM). The participants were 117 MSM aged 21–50 years who were randomly assigned to one of six separate experimental conditions created by the combination of beverage administration (water control, placebo or alcohol designed to raise blood alcohol level to .07%) and sexual arousal (low or high, manipulated by participants’ viewing non-erotic or mildly erotic film clips). Participants attended two experimental sessions. The first session included completing questionnaires about beliefs about alcohol’s effects on sex and attitudes toward condoms’ effect on sexual pleasure. The second session involved the beverage condition and arousal manipulations. Following these, participants viewed and responded to two interactive videos depicting high sexual risk scenarios. Participants also completed the CARE, a measure of risk perceptions. The dependent variables were behavioral skills, intentions to have unsafe sex, and “risk exposure,” derived from responses to the videos. The results of both planned and exploratory analyses showed general support for the hypothesized enhancement of alcohol’s effects on sexual risk by both sexual arousal and expectancies. Also as predicted, condom attitudes showed direct relationships to risk exposure and intentions. Implications of the findings for models of alcohol’s effects on sexual risk and for the development of HIV prevention interventions were discussed.

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“…To our knowledge, this is the first study experimentally examining alcohol’s effect on sexual desire in men. It is also surprising that alcohol and self-reported sexual arousal were not related given previous research (Ebel-Lam et al, 2009; George at el., 2009; MacDonald, MacDonald, Zanna, & Fong, 2000; Prause et al, 2011). It is possible if sexual arousal had been assessed earlier in the scenario, that we would have found significant relationships (e.g., Norris et al, 2009); however, this is only speculative and future research should examine this possibility.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Moreover, the mechanisms by which alcohol increases risky sexual behavior are unclear. Studies suggest that factors such as positive mood (Grant, Stewart, & Birch, 2007; Knowles & Duka, 2004; Steptoe & Wardle, 1999; Townshend, 2004), sexual desire (Gilmore et al, 2013; Turchik, 2011), and sexual arousal (self-reported and genital; Crowe & George, 1989; Ebel-Lam, MacDonald, Zanna, & Fong, 2009; George et al, 2009; MacDonald et al, 2000; Prause, Staley, & Finn, 2011) may change while intoxicated and it is possible that these factors when heightened may increase risk of unprotected sex (Ebel-Lam et al, 2009; George at el., 2009, 2014; Schacht et al, 2010). More recent research suggests that alcohol’s effects on men’s genital responding are not universal—even at high dosages, they may be confined to limited aspects of arousal topography, and vary with contextual factors such as motivational set and blood alcohol limb (George et al, 2006, 2008, 2009; Prause et al, 2011); therefore, more research examining other contextual factors (e.g., condom presence) is needed.…”

Section: Acute Alcohol Intoxicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Men's Intentions to Have Sex With a New Partner: Sexual and Emotional Responding, Alcohol, and Condoms

Gilmore

George

Jacques‐Tiura

et al. 2015

Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy

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Findings regarding the relation between alcohol and intentions to have sex have been mixed, and little research has examined the role of condom availability on intentions to have sex. Sexual and emotional responding may influence subsequent sexual decisions. Thus, a better understanding of sexual and emotional responding combined with situational factors such as condom presence could help explain the discrepancies in findings regarding alcohol’s effect on intentions to have sex. The effects of alcohol and condom presence on men’s intentions to have sex were examined using an experimental paradigm involving an alcohol administration study and a second-person eroticized scenario. The effects of sexual and emotional responding were also examined in relation to intentions to have sex. It was found that alcohol increased positive mood, which was associated with higher intentions to have sex. In addition, condom presence was directly associated with higher intentions to have sex. More sexual desire was related to increased likelihood of sexual intentions. These findings increase understanding of mechanisms underlying the relation between alcohol and intentions to have sex.

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An Experimental Investigation of the Interactive Effects of Alcohol and Sexual Arousal on Intentions to Have Unprotected Sex

Cited by 26 publications

References 23 publications

Effects of alcohol intoxication and autonomic arousal on delay discounting and risky sex in young adult heterosexual men

Effects of alcohol intoxication and autonomic arousal on delay discounting and risky sex in young adult heterosexual men

The Effects of Alcohol and Sexual Arousal on Determinants of Sexual Risk in Men Who Have Sex with Men

Men's Intentions to Have Sex With a New Partner: Sexual and Emotional Responding, Alcohol, and Condoms

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