SELF-ESTEEM, GENDER, AND ALCOHOL-USE - RELATIONSHIPS WITH HIV RISK PERCEPTION AND BEHAVIORS IN COLLEGE-STUDENTS

The present study examined the confluence of alcohol use and self-este em on risky sexual behavior and perceptions of risk for female and mal e college students. It was predicted that higher levels of self-esteem , female gender, and lower alcohol consumption would be associated wit h greater condom use and lower perceptions of risk for self and partne r. Results indicated that for low drinking students, those with high s elf-esteem reported greater condom use. In addition, low rates of alco hol use were associated with greater frequency of past condom use. Wom en and students low in self-esteem indicated greater perceptions of ri sk for themselves and their partners. These findings care discussed in terms of their implications for developing interventions aimed at red ucing risky sexual behavior.