Romantic Relationship Characteristics and Alcohol Use: Longitudinal Associations With Dual Method Contraception Use
Journal of Adolescent Health, 02/24/2012
Bailey JA et al. – Efforts to promote dual method contraception among young adults should include messages discouraging drinking before sex and supporting dual method use even in the context of committed relationships.
Methods- Hierarchical linear modeling analyses were conducted using longitudinal data from 754 sexually active male and female young adults aged 20–23 years.
- Dependent variables included both any dual method contraception use and consistent dual method contraception use.
- Between 15% and 20% of respondents reported consistent dual method contraception use at each time point.
- Longer relationship length and more committed relationship type were associated with a lower probability of both any and consistent dual method contraception use.
- Situational alcohol use (drinking before sex), but not global alcohol use, also was related to a lower probability of both any and consistent dual method contraception use.
- Increasing age was associated with a lower probability of any dual method contraception use, but was not related to consistent dual method use.
