Are drinking motives associated with sexual “hookups” among college student drinkers?

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study examined associations between drinking motivation, alcohol use, and sexual hookups among college students. Participants: Participants (n = 755 Midwest college student drinkers; 61% female) ranged in age from 18 to 24. Methods: Participants completed online measures of alcohol involvement (use and motives) and sexual activity. Results: Alcohol use was positively linked to sexual hookups. Social and enhancement motives were positively and indirectly associated with sexual hookups via alcohol use. Drinking to cope had a direct association with sexual hookups. Social drinking was more strongly associated with hookups in men than in women, but both groups exhibited a positive association. Conclusions: This study is the first to highlight the relationships between distinct drinking motives and sexual risk behavior. The results indicate that specific motives may increase risk of sexual hookups both indirectly via alcohol use, as well as directly, at least among those that drink to cope with negative mood.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol use
• college students
• drinking motives
• risky sex
• sexual hookups

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of North Dakota State University.

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.

Notes

¹ The analysis was also conducted using the full sample of drinkers across all age ranges (n = 796). This resulted in very similar model fit (χ²(12) = 7.90, p = .703, CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.00 (90% CI: 0.00, 0.03), WRMR = 0.78) and an identical interpretation of the results.