Alcohol Use and High-Risk Sexual Behavior Among Collegiate Women: A Review of Research on Alcohol Myopia Theory

Abstract

A review of current English literature in the areas of high-risk alcohol use and sexual behavior was conducted from September 2007 to December 2008. Objective: The purpose was to specifically review studies that used alcohol myopia theory (AMT) as the theoretical perspective from which they were evaluated and analyzed. Participants: Collegiate women were the population of interest in the review. Methods: Literature was acquired through searches within the Academic Search Premier and PubMed databases using the keywords “college,” “women,” “risk,” “alcohol,” “sex,” and “alcohol myopia.” Results: Results articulate the high prevalence of negative sexual consequences related to alcohol use among college-aged women and the utility of AMT. Conclusions: Future interventions aimed at decreasing high-risk alcohol and sexual behaviors among college women should incorporate AMT. Continued theory-based research examining the relationship between alcohol use and sexual behavior is needed to inform future interventions and better understand why college women continue to consume high levels of alcohol and engage in risky sexual behaviors despite the threat of negative consequences.

Keywords:

• behavior cues
• binge drinking
• rape
• condom use