Sexual enhancement expectancy, non-medical use of prescription drugs, and sexual risk behaviors in college students

Abstract

Background: American young adults have a high risk of sexually transmitted infections. Sexual risk behaviors may be influenced by psycho-behavioral factors, including substance use and sexual enhancement expectancy. Existing research suggested that substance use may mediate the relationship between sexual enhancement expectancy and sexual risk behaviors. The substance use literature also suggested that non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) was highly prevalent in college students and was associated with sexual risk. However, limited studies have examined NMUPD-related sexual enhancement expectancy. The current study examined the relationship among sexual enhancement expectancy, NMUPD, and sexual risk behaviors in college students. Methods: Online data were collected in 2016 from 453 US college students with lifetime NMUPD. All participants reported their (1) past-three-month NMUPD, (2) NMUPD sexual enhancement expectancy, and (3) sexual risk behaviors. Structural equation modeling was employed for data analysis. Results: Findings suggested significant associations of NMUPD with sexual enhancement expectancy and sexual risk behaviors. Sexual enhancement expectancy was indirectly associated with sexual risk behaviors through NMUPD. Conclusions: College students’ sexual risk behaviors appear to be indirectly influenced by sexual enhancement expectancy through NMUPD. Future sexual risk reduction interventions should attend to sexual enhancement expectancy and NMUPD.