How Much Does One More Drink Matter? Examining Effects of Event-Level Alcohol Use and Previous Sexual Victimization on Sex-Related Consequences

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective:The fi rst semester of college has been associated with increased drinking and sexual risk. However, it remains unclear why some drinking occasions result in experiencing negative sexual consequences whereas others do not. The current study used a diary-based approach to assess the event-level effect of alcohol use and previous adult/adolescent sexual victimization (PSV) on experiencing negative sex-related consequences in fi rst-year college women. Method: Participants (N = 120) provided repeated measures of weekend drinking and sex-related consequences on the Friday and Saturday nights of six different weekends over the course of their fi rst semester, resulting in 12 measured drinking occasions. A multilevel model was used to assess both between-and within-person effects of alcohol use and betweenperson effects of PSV on the likelihood of experiencing negative alcoholrelated sexual consequences. Results: Findings revealed an important within-person association, such that every drink consumed above one's mean was associated with a 13% increase in the likelihood of experiencing negative consequences. In addition, PSV had a signifi cant main effect on experiencing negative sex-related consequences. Individuals with PSV experienced nearly 2.5 times more sexual consequences than individuals without PSV. Conclusions: These results yield important implications for prevention, particularly with respect to limiting "above average" alcohol consumption among women with a history of sexual victimization. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 75, 241-248, 2014)

Sexual Assault on College Hookups: The Role of Alcohol and Acquaintances

“…One event‐level study on the effects of drinking during a sexual event found an important within‐person association, such that each drink consumed above one's “mean” alcohol consumption was associated with a 13% increase in the likelihood of reporting unprotected sex, regretted sex or unwanted sexual attention (Scaglione et al. ).…”

“…The authors concluded that women who regularly drink heavily are more likely to be in situations that may afford the opportunity for sexual assault. One event-level study on the effects of drinking during a sexual event found an important within-person association, such that each drink consumed above one's "mean" alcohol consumption was associated with a 13% increase in the likelihood of reporting unprotected sex, regretted sex or unwanted sexual attention (Scaglione et al 2014).…”

“…A few studies have conducted an event‐level or incident‐level analysis of sexual victimization concluding that alcohol use during a sexual event increases the likelihood of unprotected or coerced sex (Neal and Carey ; Patrick and Maggs ; Scaglione et al. ). However, these studies combine all sorts of events.…”

“…Research shows that drinking is frequently involved in college sexual assaults and that men and women who regularly drink are at higher risk for sexual assault perpetration and victimization, respectively (for an overview, see Abbey et al 2014). A few studies have conducted an event-level or incident-level analysis of sexual victimization concluding that alcohol use during a sexual event increases the likelihood of unprotected or coerced sex (Neal and Carey 2007;Patrick and Maggs 2009;Scaglione et al 2014). However, these studies combine all sorts of events.…”

Personality and Daily Alcohol Use Across University: Interactions with Academically Intense Events Predicting Alcohol Use Problems

“…Negative alcohol use consequences increase linearly with increased alcohol consumption and can even occur from small amounts of alcohol use (Barnett et al, 2014). Each individual drink increases risk of negative alcohol consequences, as much as a 13% increase in likelihood of negative consequences per drink (Scaglione et al, 2014).…”