@article{ref1,
title="Examination of sex-related distress and self-medication drinking model in U.S. college women",
journal="Journal of sex research",
year="2022",
author="Bird, Elizabeth R. and Stappenbeck, Cynthia A. and Blayney, Jessica and Kaysen, Debra and George, William H.",
volume="59",
number="9",
pages="1192-1200",
abstract="Adult sexual assault (ASA) in college remains a concern. Consequently, many college-aged women experience negative emotions surrounding sexual activity (sex-related distress). Consistent with self-medication theory, some drink to cope with sex-related distress, which may reduce distress, but lead to greater drinking quantity before sex and negative sexual consequences. How women with ASA histories navigate sexual situations and cope with sex-related distress is under researched. We examined ASA, sex-related distress, and drinking to cope motives to understand correlates of drinking before sex. First and second year college women (n = 300) reported on a recent sexual experience in the past six weeks. In the full sample, ASA severity was associated with a greater likelihood of drinking before sex, while general sex-related distress was associated with a lower likelihood. General sex-related distress was associated with event-specific sex-related distress and sexual consequences. There were no differences in number of pre-sex drinks or subjective intoxication during sexual activity based on ASA. In a subsample of women who drank before sexual activity (n = 179), drinking to cope with sex-related distress motives mediated the association between sex-related distress and sexual consequences. Interventions can draw on these findings to target self-medication drinking in consensual sexual situations.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-4499",
doi="10.1080/00224499.2022.2044444",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2022.2044444"
}