CSIRO PUBLISHING
Sexual Health, 2015, 12, 269–271 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/SH14215
Letter
Sexual health, alcohol and the university environment: is there a need for sexual health promotion intervention? Sharyn Burns School of Public Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Abstract. Background: Young university students participate in hazardous drinking and risky sexual health behaviours, however there are few comprehensive interventions targeting this group. Methods: Undergraduate university students aged 18–24 years (n = 2466) were recruited to complete an online survey to investigate the association between levels of alcohol consumption, gender and experienced, second-hand and witnessed sexual health behaviours and situations. Results: Male students and hazardous drinkers were most likely to participate in unprotected sex and regretted sex. Female students and hazardous drinkers were most likely to experience an unwanted sexual advance. Conclusions: Integrated and comprehensive interventions targeting young people in the university setting are needed. Additional keywords: experienced harms, witnessed harms, sexual health behaviours, alcohol consumption, university students. Received 6 November 2014, accepted 2 March 2015, published online 28 April 2015
Introduction Safe sex is considered a health-enhancing behaviour,1 however health-compromising sexual behaviours, especially unprotected sex and regretted sex, pose short- and long-term health risks for young people.2 University presents many new and exciting experiences, some of which may result in healthcompromising behaviours, including excessive alcohol use3 and risky sexual behaviours.4 Sexual risk-taking has been associated with excessive alcohol consumption5 and young university students have been found to consume alcohol at more hazardous levels than their non-university peers.6 At an age when many young people are exploring their sexuality,7 hazardous use of alcohol in association with the university culture and environment6 can result in risky sexual behaviours. Methods Students (18–24 years; n = 2466) studying at the main campus of a large metropolitan university were randomly contacted via student email (n = 6000) and asked to participate in an online survey that included questions regarding levels of alcohol consumption,8 and experienced (eg. unprotected sex, regretted sexual encounter)9,10 second-hand (eg. sexual assault) 11 and witnessed harms (eg. unwanted sexual advance).12 The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)8 was used to identify low-risk and hazardous consumption (score 8 identifies hazardous drinkers). Sexual behaviours were measured from experienced harms (three questions); second-hand harms (two questions) and witnessed harms (one question) items. The study Journal compilation CSIRO 2015
methods are described elsewhere12. Proportions were compared for categorical variables, using c2 test to measure statistical significance. Results Drinkers comprised 89.1% of the sample; of these 39.7% were classified as hazardous drinkers. Hazardous drinkers were significantly more likely to report experienced, second-hand and witnessed harms compared with low-risk drinkers. Men were significantly more likely to report unprotected sex and witness someone experience an unwanted sexual advance. Women were significantly more likely to experience an unwanted sexual advance as a result of another student’s drinking (Table 1). Discussion Two concerning issues emerge from these data. The first is the proportion of unprotected sex occurring as a result of personal alcohol consumption. This was more prevalent among hazardous drinkers and men, however as in other studies all drinkers and genders reported unprotected sex.13,14 In addition to social and emotional harms, unprotected sex for young people may pose physical and mental health risks in the event of an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmissible infection (STI). Negative outcomes of STIs and unplanned pregnancy place considerable burden on young people.2 Although young people aged 15–24 years accounted for 81% of cases of www.publish.csiro.au/journals/sh
270
Sexual Health
S. Burns
Table 1. Risky sexual experiences of students by gender and low risk and hazardous drinking
Experienced harmsC (n = 1995) Unprotected sex Sexual situation unhappy about Regretted sexual encounter Second-hand harmsC (n = 2256) Unwanted sexual advance Sexual assault (including date rape) Witnessed harmsC (n = 2256) Unwanted sexual advance
Male n (%)
Female n (%)
Other gender n (%)
P-valueA
Low riskB n (%)
HazardousB n (%)
P-valueA
181 (24.2) 72 (9.6) 136 (18.2)
203 (16.3) 102 (8.2) 197 (15.8)
2 (50) 1 (25) 2 (50)
0.000 0.287 0.083
111 (9.3) 57 (4.8) 98 (8.2)
275 (34.5) 118 (14.8) 237 (29.7)
0.000 0.000 0.000
96 (11.3) 22 (2.6)
198 (14.1) 15 (1.1)
4 (40) 2 (40)
0.035 0.000
103 (8.5) 11 (0.9)
178 (22.1) 25 (3.1)
0.000 0.005
143 (16.9)
180 (12.8)
2 (40)
0.008
115 (9.5)
161 (20)
0.000
A
Significance (P-value) measured between genders and between low risk and hazardous alcohol consumption. Low risk alcohol consumption (AUDIT8 score of
Sexual Health, 2015, 12, 269–271 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/SH14215
Letter
Sexual health, alcohol and the university environment: is there a need for sexual health promotion intervention? Sharyn Burns School of Public Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Abstract. Background: Young university students participate in hazardous drinking and risky sexual health behaviours, however there are few comprehensive interventions targeting this group. Methods: Undergraduate university students aged 18–24 years (n = 2466) were recruited to complete an online survey to investigate the association between levels of alcohol consumption, gender and experienced, second-hand and witnessed sexual health behaviours and situations. Results: Male students and hazardous drinkers were most likely to participate in unprotected sex and regretted sex. Female students and hazardous drinkers were most likely to experience an unwanted sexual advance. Conclusions: Integrated and comprehensive interventions targeting young people in the university setting are needed. Additional keywords: experienced harms, witnessed harms, sexual health behaviours, alcohol consumption, university students. Received 6 November 2014, accepted 2 March 2015, published online 28 April 2015
Introduction Safe sex is considered a health-enhancing behaviour,1 however health-compromising sexual behaviours, especially unprotected sex and regretted sex, pose short- and long-term health risks for young people.2 University presents many new and exciting experiences, some of which may result in healthcompromising behaviours, including excessive alcohol use3 and risky sexual behaviours.4 Sexual risk-taking has been associated with excessive alcohol consumption5 and young university students have been found to consume alcohol at more hazardous levels than their non-university peers.6 At an age when many young people are exploring their sexuality,7 hazardous use of alcohol in association with the university culture and environment6 can result in risky sexual behaviours. Methods Students (18–24 years; n = 2466) studying at the main campus of a large metropolitan university were randomly contacted via student email (n = 6000) and asked to participate in an online survey that included questions regarding levels of alcohol consumption,8 and experienced (eg. unprotected sex, regretted sexual encounter)9,10 second-hand (eg. sexual assault) 11 and witnessed harms (eg. unwanted sexual advance).12 The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)8 was used to identify low-risk and hazardous consumption (score 8 identifies hazardous drinkers). Sexual behaviours were measured from experienced harms (three questions); second-hand harms (two questions) and witnessed harms (one question) items. The study Journal compilation CSIRO 2015
methods are described elsewhere12. Proportions were compared for categorical variables, using c2 test to measure statistical significance. Results Drinkers comprised 89.1% of the sample; of these 39.7% were classified as hazardous drinkers. Hazardous drinkers were significantly more likely to report experienced, second-hand and witnessed harms compared with low-risk drinkers. Men were significantly more likely to report unprotected sex and witness someone experience an unwanted sexual advance. Women were significantly more likely to experience an unwanted sexual advance as a result of another student’s drinking (Table 1). Discussion Two concerning issues emerge from these data. The first is the proportion of unprotected sex occurring as a result of personal alcohol consumption. This was more prevalent among hazardous drinkers and men, however as in other studies all drinkers and genders reported unprotected sex.13,14 In addition to social and emotional harms, unprotected sex for young people may pose physical and mental health risks in the event of an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmissible infection (STI). Negative outcomes of STIs and unplanned pregnancy place considerable burden on young people.2 Although young people aged 15–24 years accounted for 81% of cases of www.publish.csiro.au/journals/sh
270
Sexual Health
S. Burns
Table 1. Risky sexual experiences of students by gender and low risk and hazardous drinking
Experienced harmsC (n = 1995) Unprotected sex Sexual situation unhappy about Regretted sexual encounter Second-hand harmsC (n = 2256) Unwanted sexual advance Sexual assault (including date rape) Witnessed harmsC (n = 2256) Unwanted sexual advance
Male n (%)
Female n (%)
Other gender n (%)
P-valueA
Low riskB n (%)
HazardousB n (%)
P-valueA
181 (24.2) 72 (9.6) 136 (18.2)
203 (16.3) 102 (8.2) 197 (15.8)
2 (50) 1 (25) 2 (50)
0.000 0.287 0.083
111 (9.3) 57 (4.8) 98 (8.2)
275 (34.5) 118 (14.8) 237 (29.7)
0.000 0.000 0.000
96 (11.3) 22 (2.6)
198 (14.1) 15 (1.1)
4 (40) 2 (40)
0.035 0.000
103 (8.5) 11 (0.9)
178 (22.1) 25 (3.1)
0.000 0.005
143 (16.9)
180 (12.8)
2 (40)
0.008
115 (9.5)
161 (20)
0.000
A
Significance (P-value) measured between genders and between low risk and hazardous alcohol consumption. Low risk alcohol consumption (AUDIT8 score of
