ALCOHOLS EFFECTS ON REQUISITES FOR SEXUAL RISK REDUCTION IN MEN - AN INITIAL EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

The effects of alcohol intoxication on mediators of condom use were ex amined in a laboratory-based experiment. Twenty men were randomly assi gned to either an alcohol or a nonalcohol beverage administration cond ition. Participants in the experimental condition drank vodka and toni c to achieve a blood alcohol level of 0.08%, whereas controls drank to nic only. All participants then completed a battery of measures relate d to condom and AIDS-related knowledge, motivation to use condoms, and behavioral self-efficacy regarding condom use. Findings from this exp loratory study, which should be considered preliminary because of the small sample size, indicated that participants who received alcohol te nded to report more negative attitudes toward condoms and lower self-e fficacy to initiate condom use than controls. AIDS knowledge, appraisa l of social norms regarding condom use, and perceived risk of infectio n were unaffected by alcohol consumption.