The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3284.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - Board 1

Abstract #35422

Alcohol use and sexual behaviors among adolescents: A secondary analysis of the 1993-1999 YRBS

Michael S Dunn, PhD, Department of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 70674, Johnson City, TN 37614, 423-439-4458, dunn@etsu.edu

Research has demonstrated a relationship between alcohol use and high-risk sexual behaviors. Alcohol use, especially binge drinking has been linked to a host of problems including high-risky sexual behavior, date rape, and academic problems. As such, the purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive profile of alcohol consumption patterns among adolescents, and to examine the relationship between alcohol use (lifetime, current, binge) and a host of sexual activity variables (sexual initiation, multiple sex partners, condom use, and pregnancy) among adolescents completing the 1993-1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Results of this study revealed that alcohol use was associated with high-risk sexual activity. Binge drinking had a stronger relationship with sexual activity variables than lifetime use and current use of alcohol. This result is of particular concern, in that binge drinking has been implicated in a host of problem behaviors. As such, it is of great importance to intervene in the high-risk practices of adolescents before problems occur.

Learning Objectives:

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Alcohol and Other Drug Use among Teens: Environmental and Resilience Factors Poster Session

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA