Does university students at risk of developing alcohol problems are more likely to report sexual risky behaviour? Presenting Author: Ondrej Kalina Co-authors: Salonna F; Orosova O; Gajdosova B Department of Educational Psychology and Health Psychology Faculty of Arts, P. J. Safarik University Kosice, Slovakia Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract No. APVV and the Slovak Academy of Sciences under Contract No. VEGA 1/1092/12.

Background Why to explore relations among drinking and sexual behaviour? Alcohol use is broadly understood as a common part of colege experience Alcohol use on sexual impairment This relationship is basic pattern for differences in health behaviour Individuals of lower SES are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, and have poor nutrition (e.g. Pomerleau et al., 1997). They also tend to hold beliefs (e.g. health depends on luck) that are not conducive to healthy behavioral decisions (Wardle & Steptoe, 2003).

Background Previous findings on SES and risky behaviour The findings on the relationship between SES and risk behavior in youths are not as consistent (e.g. Tuinstra et al, 1998; Hanson and Chen, 2007) Higher SES was associated with » fast food consumption » smoking cigarettes » and lower physical activity (Madarasova Geckova et al., 2003; Przeweda, Dobosz, 2003) SES and health is particularly important in the post-communist system, where SES is undergoing significant transformation (Piko and Fitzpatric, 2001)

Background Why to explore associations between SES and sexual behaviour? The quality of SES may have a direct impact on occurrence of adolescent childbearing and incidence of Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) as well (Santelli et al., 2000). Key factors childbearing: age at first sex, frequency of intercourse, use of contraception, decision about pregnancy continuation Key factors for STD: age at first sex, multiple sexual partners, use of barrier protection, use of diagnostic and treatment services Previous studies confirmed the associations between low SES and sexual risky behaviour (SRB) The impact of poverty on sexual behaviour is still not well understood

Background Why to explore associations between (SES) and sexual behaviour on college students? Involvement with sexual behavior, alcohol and other drugs often begins during adolescence and young adulthood Sexually active adolescents has a higher rates of STD acquisition than any other group (9 milion cases per year in USA, CDCP, 2007) Sexual risky behaviour reach the highest rates between year of age Accumulation of SRB with a number of other risky behaviors including substance use and delinquency is evident For sources of SES young adulthood may be a specific period of age

Sample characteristic Data collection in university students, 336 boys and 599 girls Mean age 20.5 years (SD=1.4) Students population at University: students From different faculties : medicine, science and arts

Methods Explored 7 types of (risky) sexual behaviour - ever had sexual intercourse - age at first sex - condom use during first/last sex - sex with unknown partner - number of sexual partners (lifetime) - sex under alcohol or drug influence - duration of relationship before first and last sex Explored 2 indicators of SES - mother and father education status (low, middle, high) - parental education level (combination) - financial monthly income (less than 40 €, 40 € to 100 €, more than 100 €) (the average monthly wage in Slovak economy for first half of 2010 was 741 € )

Descriptive characteristic of sample – sexual behaviour Boys (n=336)n / %Girls (n=599) Ever had sex yes238 / / 74.2 Age at first sex 16 and less49 / / 19.8 Number of sexual partners 4 and more64 / / 20.4 Condom use during first sex yes163 / / 72.0 Condom use during last sex yes112 / / 55.2 Ever had sex with unknown person yes57 / / 10.7 Ever had sex under alcohol or drug influence yes140 / / 43.6 Duration of relationship before first sex less than month73 / / 12.9 Duration of relationship before last sex less than month26 / / 6.3

Descriptive characteristic of sample – socioeconomic status All sample (n=935) Educattion level of mother low164 / 17.7 middle482 / 51.9 high282 / 30.4 Education level of father low226 / 24.8 middle353 / 38.7 high334 / 36.6 Education level of parents low95 / 10.2 middle618 / 66.1 high200 / 21.4 Boys (n=336)n / %Girls (n=599) Income less than 40 Euro56 / / to 100 Euro98 / / and more98 / /28.5

Results: SES on sexual behaviour * p. <.05. ** p. <.01 ***p.<.001

Results: SES on sexual behaviour * p. <.05. ** p. <.01 ***p.<.001 Table 2 Ever had sex with unknown person Ever had sex under alcohol or drug influence Duration of relationship before first sex Duration of relationship before last sex yes month and more Education level of parents low**1.0ns**1.0 middle0.60 ( )1.75 ( )3.00 ( ) high0.33 ( )3.50 ( )4.25 ( ) Income less than 40 Euro*1.0 ns 40 to 100 Euro1.23 ( )1.49 ( ) 100 and more1.95 ( )1.75 ( )

Summing up Among university students... Higher monthly income was associated with: »higher chance to have sex »higher chance to have a early sex (16 and less) »higher chance to have sex with unknown person »higher chance to have sex under drug or alcohol influence Higher education level of parents was associated with: »higher chance to stay a virgin »higher chance to have a sex later (17 and more) »higher chance to have less sexual partners (3 and less) »higher chance to use condom (first and last intercourse) »lower chance to have sex with unknown person »longer duration of relationship before first or last sex

Discussion and conclusion Some indicators of SRB may be a potential risk for unintended pregnancies or STD SES is significantly associated with sexual behaviour Education and income plays a different role Risky or protective? » Parental education attainment seems as a preventive factor » High income supports sexual risky behaviour For the sources and effect of SES the young adulthood is a specific period “If the man evolved from apes, does that mean that we came from sea monkeys?“

Thank you Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Research and Development Support Agency under the Contract No. APVV and VEGA 1/4518/07. Correspondence to: Ondrej Kalina Department of Educational Psychology and Health Psychology Faculty of Arts P.J.Safarik University, Kosice Slovakia phone: ,