Influence of Social Settings on Risky Sexual Behavior

This study investigated the relevance of social settings aspredictors of risky sexual behavior. In a young adult sample (n = 324, M age = 20.2years), we examined the association between frequency of attendance at five differentsettings and frequency of engaging in four risky sexual behaviors (i.e., unprotectedintercourse when not drunk or high, unprotected intercourse when drunk or high, casualsex when not drunk or high, casual sex when drunk or high). Predictive associations wereexamined using negative binomial regression, and all analyses controlled for frequencyof recent alcohol use and age at first use of alcohol. Greater attendance atfraternity/sorority parties predicted more frequent intercourse for females in the notdrunk or high and drunk or high contexts, and more frequent casual sex for males in thenot drunk or high context. Greater attendance at large private parties predicted morefrequent intercourse for females in the not drunk or high context. Greater attendance atbars without dance floors predicted more frequent intercourse for males in the drunk orhigh context. These findings highlight the importance of socializing habits inunderstanding risky sexual behavior