| Summary: | While it is generally assumed that alcohol consumption
plays some role in the advent of negative sexual outcomes
among college students (sexually transmitted diseases,
unplanned pregnancies, and date rape), that role has not
been empirically demonstrated or quantified.
The purpose of this study was to assess the association
of alcohol consumption with negative sexual outcomes in
college women. Specifically, this study attempted to
determine this association by means of a survey administered
to a population of women students from Oregon State
University and Western Oregon State College (n =430). Data
collection took place during winter term, 1991.
Average monthly alcohol consumption was assessed, as
well as the frequency of alcohol consumption prior to sexual
intercourse. The association of alcohol consumption with
experiences of sexual coercion, in both the victim and the
perpetrator, was also assessed. Negative sexual outcomes
assessed were sexually transmitted diseases (STDs),
unplanned pregnancies and pregnancy "scares", four
categories of sexual coercion (unwanted touching, verbally
forced date rape, physically forced date rape, and stranger
rape), and unprotected intercourse (condom usage).
A strong association between alcohol consumption and
sexual coercion was found. Women who had experienced sexual
coercion consumed significantly more alcohol on the average
than those who had not had such experience. Also, it was
found that alcohol was consumed by the perpetrator, the
victim, or both in the majority (57-69%) of incidents of
sexual coercion.
While women who had experienced STDs appeared to drink
more (mean monthly alcohol consumption= 16.9 drinks) than
those who had not experienced STDs (mean monthly alcohol
consumption= 12.3 drinks), small cell size and sample
variability made meaningful statistical comparisons
inappropriate. No association between alcohol consumption
and unplanned pregnancies and pregnancy "scares" was found.
Alcohol consumption prior to intercourse had a
paradoxical relationship with both sexually transmitted
diseases and condom usage: those who always or never drink
prior to intercourse were less likely to experience an STD
and more likely to use condoms than those who say they
occasionally drink prior to intercourse.
It is recommended that university health educators
disseminate the findings on alcohol consumption and sexual
coercion and STDs. It is also suggested that they, along
with those responsible for student services and university
policies, should encourage non-alcoholic forms of social
support, stress management, and recreation on campus. An
additional recommendation was that both qualitative research
and longitudinal studies be done to follow up the
exploration begun in this study. === Graduation date: 1992
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