The Use of Alcohol and Condoms During Sexual Assault

Sexual assault remains an important public health issue, due to the violence involved as well as the potential for health risks such as STI transmission. Alcohol has been associated with both violent and risky sexual behavior. 

This study assessed the frequency of sexual assault perpetration, alcohol use, and condom use during sexual assault in a community sample of young heterosexual male social drinkers. Participants (N=115) completed measures of their sexual assault perpetration. 

Slightly over 50% reported sexual assault perpetration; 60% of these reported repeat perpetration. Almost one-half of perpetrators reported alcohol consumption prior to every sexual assault incident. Never having used a condom during penetrative sexually aggressive acts was reported by 41.2% of perpetrators. Alcohol use and condom non-use were positively correlated for acts of forcible rape. 

Findings provide novel information about the infrequent use of condoms during sexual assault incidents and support prior evidence of the association between alcohol and sexual assault.

Table 3

Alcohol Consumption and Condom Use by Sexual Assault Type

	Alcohol Consumption		Condom Use
Type of Sexual Assault	N	(%)	N	(%)
Forced Sexual Contact
Never	12	(27.3)	n/a
Inconsistent	10	(22.7)	n/a
Always	22	(50.0)	n/a
Verbal Sexual Coercion
Never	4	(23.5)	8	(47.1)
Inconsistent	2	(11.8)	2	(11.8)
Always	11	(64.7)	7	(41.2)
Incapacitated Rape
Never	0	(0.0)	13	(56.5)
Inconsistent	0	(0.0)	2	(8.6)
Always	23	(100.0)	8	(34.8)
Attempted Rape
Never	3	(30.0)	n/a
Inconsistent	2	(20.0)	n/a
Always	5	(50.0)	n/a
Forcible Rape
Never	2	(25.0)	4	(50.0)
Inconsistent	4	(50.0)	2	(25.0)
Always	2	(25.0)	2	(25.0)

Note. Participants could report perpetration of more than one type of sexual aggression.

Full article at: http://goo.gl/29Zfss

By: Kelly Cue Davis, Ph.D., Trevor J. Schraufnagel, B.S., William H. George, Ph.D., and Jeanette Norris, Ph.D.

University of Washington

Kelly Cue Davis: ude.notgnihsaw.u@euck

Trevor J. Schraufnagel: ude.notgnihsaw.u@rfmt2t

William H. George: ude.notgnihsaw.u@egroegb

Jeanette Norris: ude.notgnihsaw.u@sirron

Corresponding Author: Kelly Cue Davis, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, 4101 15^th Ave NE, Box 354900, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, (206) 616-2174, Fax (206) 543-9937, Email: ude.notgnihsaw.u@euck

   

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