Abstract
College students seem to be at particular risk for HIV infection due to the normative pattern of sexual activity with multiple partners combined with high frequency and levels of alcohol consumption and inconsistent condom use. This study examined the relationships among communication about HIV with the last sexual partner and alcohol and condom use among female and male college students. Factors which might predict drinking were also explored. Three hundred and fifty heterosexually oriented undergraduate students completed the College Health and Academics Survey, providing information on their last sexual encounter. A direct relationship was not found between the amount of alcohol consumed and likelihood of using a condom. However, significant relationships were found between communicating with partner and condom use (for females and males), and alcohol consumption and communications (for males only). Different HIV risk models focusing on predictors of alcohol use were found for females and males. Implications for educational interventions to reduce alcohol and HIV risk are discussed.