Associations Between Sociosexuality and Intoxicated Sex and Unprotected Sex: Mediating Effects of Hazardous Drinking

BACKGROUND: Sociosexuality reflects behaviors, attitudes, and desires related to casual sex with multiple, concurrent, novel partners. Research on whether people high in sociosexuality are less likely to engage in safer sex practices (e.g., unprotected sex) is mixed, but there is evidence that those high in sociosexuality consume more alcohol than their peers, and drinking is associated with less likelihood of engaging in safer sex. Here we tested whether sociosexuality is associated with intoxicated and unprotected sex in a sample of college students (Study 1) and adults (Study 2). METHODS: We hypothesized that sociosexuality would be associated with both intoxicated and unprotected sex on the premise that those high in sociosexuality tend to drink more (and those who drink more might be more likely to engage in sex while intoxicated) and less likely to engage in safer sex practices. RESULTS: Across both studies we found that sociosexuality is associated with intoxicated and unprotected sex, and this association was partially mediated by alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have important implications for public health interventions aiming to increase safer sex practices.