Alcohol and risky sex in athletes and nonathletes: what roles do sex motives play?

OBJECTIVE: Studies indicate greater sexual risk-taking behaviors and alcohol use in student-athletes compared with nonathletes, particularly in college samples. Although research has documented an association between drinking and risky sex, studies have not examined the role of sex motives in predicting risky sex in athletes. The purpose of the current study was to extend previous research on athletes' risk-taking behaviors by examining incoming college student-athletes and nonathletes' alcohol consumption, risky sexual behavior, and sex motives.

METHOD: Participants included 2,123 (58.9% female) incoming college students attending a northwest university, 221 of whom reported intercollegiate athletic participation during their upcoming year. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between sex motives and risky sexual behaviors using a cross-sectional design.

RESULTS: Results indicated greater weekly alcohol consumption, frequency of drinking before or during sex, and number of sexual partners in athletes compared with nonathletes. Athletes also reported greater levels of enhancement motives for sex and lower levels of intimacy motives than nonathletes, although no differences were found for coping motives. Significant interactions indicated that, for athletes, greater levels of enhancement sex motives predicted a greater number of sexual partners and more frequent drinking before or during sex, and greater levels of intimacy motives predicted less frequent drinking before or during sex.

CONCLUSIONS: Student-athletes are at risk for problematic outcomes associated with risky sex, including drinking before or during sex and having sex with multiple partners. Prevention efforts targeted at incoming college student-athletes should consider the role of sex motives.