1. The Role of Alcohol in the Sexual Experiences of Heavy Drinking
and Non-heavy Drinking College Men
Lindsay Orchowski, PhD, Jesse Boggis, B.A., Ariel Hoadley, B.A., Daniel Oesterle, B.S., Lawrence Chan, & Emily Johnson
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University
 Sexual assault is pervasive on college campuses across the country; The vast majority of sexual assault is perpetrated by men against women, using primarily
coercive strategies (e.g., arguments or pressure) or by providing a potential victim with alcohol in order to lower her ability to resist (Warkentin & Gidycz, 2007).
 Notably, alcohol intoxication increases men’s likelihood of disregarding a woman’s refusal of sexual activity (Abbey, Zawacki, Buck, Testa, Parks, Norris,
Martin, Livingston, McAuslan, Clinton, Kennedy, George, Davis, & Martell, 2002).
 When intoxicated, men are also more likely to interpret women’s behavior as a sign of sexual interest (Parkhill & Abbey, 2008).
 20% of college women report having experienced of an attempted or completed rape (Brener, McMahon, Warren & Douglas, 1999).
 28% of college women experience sexual victimization as a result of incapacitation or the use of force prior to or during their college years (Krebs, Lindquist,
Warner, Fisher & Martin, 2009).
 College men also report perpetrating high rates of sexual aggression; with 14% perpetrating some form of sexual aggression over 1-year period (Abbey
& McAuslan, 2004) and 35% perpetrating over a 4-year period (White & Smith, 2004).
 Sexually aggressive men report greater daily alcohol consumption (Borowsky, Hogan, & Ireland, 1997) and engage in higher rates of heavy drinking
(Neal & Fromme, 2007) than non-sexually aggressive men.
 Similarly, higher alcohol use is correlated with an increased likelihood to perpetrate sexual violence (Kaysen, Neighbors, Martell, Fossos, & Larimer, 2006).
 Bystander interventions aim to empower individuals to intervene when they witness potentially threatening dating situations (Banyard, Moynihan, & Plante,
2007; Banyard, Plante & Moynihan, 2004).
 A man’s personal willingness to intervene as a bystander during sexual assaults is strongly associated with his perception of how other men would act
(Fabiano, Perkins, Berkowitz, Linkenbach & Stark, 2003).
 Men often fail to intervene when witnessing inappropriate dating behavior because they are unaware that their peers share their discomfort with the dating
norms that men are socialized to follow (Berkowitz, 2002; Kilmartin, Conway, Friedberg, McQuoid, Tschan & Norbet, 1999).
 Most college men misperceive their peers' attitudes towards sex and sexual behavior (Berkowitz, 2004).
 The majority of men disapprove of other men who commit sexual violence and are uncomfortable with the societal expectations of masculinity (Berkowitz,
2004).
 Correcting men’s erroneous beliefs about social and sexual norms can combat misperceptions and encourages men to become comfortable expressing
disapproval of their peers’ sexually aggressive behaviors (Paul & Grey, 2011).
PURPOSE: The present study explores the role of alcohol in the sexual experiences between heavy drinking men and non-drinking men.
Among men who were sexually active in the past 30 days with a
female partner, heavy drinkers, compared to non-heavy drinkers,
reported a high number of sexual experiences involving any personal
or heavy alcohol use, any or heavy alcohol use by a female partner,
any or heavy alcohol use by both individuals.
Whereas heavy drinkers reported more confidence than non-heavy
drinkers that they could gauge consent for sexual activity when they
were intoxicated, non-heavy drinkers felt more confident than heavy
drinkers that they could gauge consent for sexual activity when sober
Compared with heavy drinkers, non-heavy drinkers:
►Felt sex was more enjoyable when sober , were less likely to
regret sexual experiences when sober compared to when drunk,
were more likely to regret sexual experiences when they, a partner or
both were intoxicated, believe that having a sexual experience with a
new partner when drinking could decrease the changes of having a
serious relationship, felt better about sexual experiences when
sober, that involved clear sexual communication.
►Tried more often to gain a verbal affirmation of consent, would
prefer to gain verbal consent than attempt a sexual activity and “wait
and see” how the partner responds, did not think it was OK to
encourage a woman to drink in order to increase their chances of
having sex, were more likely to proactively intervene when
witnessing another man encouraging a woman to drink in order to
increase their chances of sexual activity.
BACKGROUND
Eastern Psychological Association, March 2014, Boston Massachusetts Email Contact: Lindsay_Orchowski@brown.edu
PARTICIPANTS
To be eligible for the study, participants were: 1) male; 2) enrolled full or part-time at the University. Data
were collected at a large Northeastern university.
PROCEDURE
►Participants were recruited via email to complete an online survey. The study was advertised as a survey
about dating and alcohol use. Participants were informed that the purpose of the study was to better understand
college dating behavior and develop an intervention to improve safety in dating and sexual situations for college
students. Participants received a description of the study, an informed consent form, and were compensated with
an entry for a $50 raffle upon completion of the survey. The odds of being selected for the raffle were 1 in 50.
RESULTS
METHOD
SUMMARY
MEASURES
►Measure of Current Alcohol Use
►Participants responded to the question “In the past 30 days, how many times have you had 5 or more
drinks in a row?” From these responses, participants were categorized into two groups: binge drinkers and
non-binge drinkers. The binge drinkers were defined as having drank 5 or more alcoholic beverages in a row,
on 2 or more separate occasions in the past 30 days. Non-binge drinkers were defined as those participants
who reported drinking 5 or more alcoholic beverages in a row, no times in the past month, or on one single
occasion.
►Other Measures:
►A series of items were developed for the purpose of the present study in order to examine the interaction between
sexual activity and alcohol, as well as students’ attitudes towards sexual activity and alcohol use
Respondent Characteristics
(N = 242)
N (%)
Age (mean + SD) 20.44 +1.038
Sexual Orientation
Heterosexual
Bisexual
Homosexual
Questioning
No Answer
Ethnicity
220
2
16
2
2
(90.9)
(0.8)
(6.6)
(0.8)
(0.8)
White/Caucasian 209 (86.4)
Asian
Black/African American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Other
No Answer
10
5
1
10
7
(4.1)
(2.1)
(0.4)
(4.1)
(2.9)
Drinking Behavior
Binge Drinkers 121 (50.0)
Non-Binge Drinkers 121 (50.0)
Sexual Activity
Using some alcohol* 160 (66.1)
While Binge-Drinking* 132 (54.5)
(* = during the past year)
Note: This research was supported by NIAAA grant number
R34-AA020852 (PI: Orchowski) The content is solely the
responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily
represent the official views of the National Institute of
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
SUMMARY
►Non-heavy drinkers feel more confident about gauging consent for sexual activity when sober compared with
heavy drinkers
►Heavy drinkers were more likely to report sexual experiences where alcohol is more present than are non-
heavy drinkers
►Differences exist between heavy and non-heavy drinkers in their attitudes towards sexual experiences and the
role of alcohol in those experiences
►Our findings underscore the importance of addressing alcohol as a risk factor for sexual aggression in sexual
assault prevention programs for men, and targeting the needs of men who report heavy drinking in intervention
efforts.
References cited in this poster are available
upon request.
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS
Among men who were sexually active with a female partner in the past year (N= 189):
Heavy drinkers reported they:
►Preferred sexual activity after having consumed 2.93 drinks
►Preferred sexual activity with a partner after she had consumed 1.62 drinks
Non-heavy drinkers reported that they:
►Preferred sexual activity after having consumed 0.65 drinks
►Preferred sexual activity with a partner after she has consumed 0.50 drinks
►Heavy drinkers reported preferring sexual activity after having consumed more drinks than non-heavy drinkers,
[t(187)= -5.60, p<.001], and reported a preference for having a partner consume more alcohol than did non-heavy
drinkers[t(187) = -4.66, p<.001]
N Mean t-statistic p-value
Among the full study sample (N=242):
How many female sexual partners
have you had in the past year?
Non-binge
drinker 121 1.93 -1.67 0.097
Binge
drinker
121 3.02
How many female sexual partners
have you had in the past month (30
days)?
Non-binge
drinker 121 .74 -0.55 0.585
Binge
drinker
121 .83
How many times have you engaged in
some form of sexual activity with a
woman over the past month (30
days)?
Non-binge
drinker 121 4.84 -1.62 0.106
Binge
drinker
121 6.88
Among men who were sexually active with a female partner in the past 30 days
(N=150):
How many of these experiences
involved any personal use of alcohol?
Non-binge
drinker 64 .78 -4.18 <.001
Binge
drinker
86 3.49
How many of these experiences were
you drinking 5 or more drinks?
Non-binge
drinker 64 .20 -4.14 <.001
Binge
drinker
86 2.80
H ow many of these experiences
involved any use of alcohol by the
woman?
Non-binge
drinker 64 .72 -4.22 <.001
Binge
drinker
86 2.91
What number of these experiences
involved your female partner having 4
or more drinks?
Non-binge
drinker 64 .30 -3.51 <.001
Binge
drinker
86 2.49
How many of these experiences were
both you and the woman consuming
alcohol prior to the experience?
Non-binge
drinker 64 .67 -4.04 <.001
Binge
drinker
86 3.26
How many of these experiences did
you consume 5 or more drinks, and
your female partner consumed 4 or
more drinks?
Non-binge
drinker 64 .17 -3.78 <.001
Binge
drinker
86 2.07
N Mean t-statistic p-value
Among men sexually active in the past year (N = 189)
Sex is more enjoyable when I’m sober compared
to when I’m drunk
Non-binge
drinker
82 4.16 4.51 <.001
Binge drinker 107 3.46
I am less likely to regret sexual experiences when
I’m sober compared to when I’m drunk
Non-binge
drinker
82 4.32 4.21 <.001
Binge drinker 107 3.71
I am more likely to regret having sex with a
partner when she is intoxicated
Non-binge
drinker
82 4.01 3.82 <.001
Binge drinker 107 3.44
I am more likely to regret having sex with a
partner when I am intoxicated.
Non-binge
drinker
82 3.87 2.82 .005
Binge drinker 107 3.43
I am more likely to regret having sex with a
partner when both of us are intoxicated.
Non-binge
drinker
82 3.62 2.91 .004
Binge drinker 107 3.15
Having sexual experiences with a new partner
after I’ve been drinking can damage the likelihood
of having a serious relationship with them in the
future.
Non-binge
drinker
82 3.87 4.55 <.001
Binge drinker
107 3.15
When I am sober, I am confident that I am on the
same page with my sexual partner (i.e.,
understand what they want, understand what they
don’t want)?
Non-binge
drinker
82 4.46 3.90 <.001
Binge drinker
107 3.98
When I am intoxicated, I am confident that I am
on the same page with my partner (i.e.,
understand what they want, understand what they
don’t want)?
Non-binge
drinker
82 2.85 -4.18 <.001
Binge drinker
107 3.52
I do not think it is OK to encourage women to
drink in order to increase my chances of having
sex (e.g. buying alcohol for a woman, providing
alcohol for a woman, suggesting that the woman
drink).
Non-binge
drinker
82 4.18 3.27 .001
Binge drinker
107 3.65
I feel better about the sexual experiences I have
when I am sober.
Non-binge
drinker
82 4.33 4.65 <.001
Binge drinker 107 3.71
I feel better about the sexual experiences I have
when I know what my partner wanted.
Non-binge
drinker
82 4.73 3.80 <.001
Binge drinker 107 4.33
It makes me uncomfortable when I see other men
encourage women to drink in order to increase
their chances of having sex with them (e.g.
buying alcohol for a woman, providing alcohol for
a woman, suggesting that the woman drink).
Non-binge
drinker
82 4.01 2.98 .003
Binge drinker
107 3.55
I would intervene if I see another man trying to
encourage a woman to drink in order to increase
their chances of having sex with them (e.g.
buying alcohol for a woman, providing alcohol for
a woman, suggesting that the woman drink).
Non-binge
drinker
82 3.45 4.40 <.001
Binge drinker
107 2.81
I feel uncomfortable when my guy friends talk
about sex in detail around me.
Non-binge
drinker
82 2.09 1.52 .131
Binge drinker 107 1.85
I’d prefer not to go into detail about the types of
sexual activity that I engage in with women.
Non-binge
drinker
82 3.13 1.46 .147
Binge drinker 107 2.86
I feel better about sexual experiences when I gain
verbal affirmation from a sex partner that what is
happening is OK.
Non-binge
drinker
82 4.32 3.08 .002
Binge drinker 107 3.89
During sexual activity, I try to gain a verbal
affirmation from my partner that what we are
doing is OK.
Non-binge
drinker
82 4.07 3.43 .001
Binge drinker 107 3.58
I’d rather ask a partner if we can do something
sexual, then try to try something sexual with a
partner and wait and see how they respond.
Non-binge
drinker
82 3.84 2.94 .004
Binge drinker 107 3.41