Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Binge Drinking in Young Adulthood: The Influence of Age at First Intercourse and Rate of Sex Partner Accumulation

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There has been growing attention to the influence of youths’ sexual experiences on alcohol use and other health-risk behaviors. Yet, because of the cross-sectional nature of many studies, as well as the likelihood of alcohol use and sexual behaviors to co-occur, the question of whether initiation of sexual activity tends to precede engagement in other behaviors, like binge drinking, remains largely unanswered. Using data from 4726 respondents who participated in Waves I through IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), we examined the association between age at first intercourse and frequent binge drinking during one’s mid-twenties and early thirties. We further explored whether this relationship was mediated or moderated by the rate at which individuals accumulated sex partners during the transition to adulthood. Findings showed for women and men, later ages at first intercourse were associated with lower odds of frequent binge drinking in young adulthood. While rate of sex partner accumulation partially mediated this association, it did not moderate it. Furthermore, rate of partner accumulation was positively associated with binge drinking, particularly among women, with a quicker accumulation of sex partners associated with a higher likelihood of engaging in frequent binge drinking. Our findings underscore the importance of considering multiple dimensions of a single behavior and their relation to subsequent health-related behaviors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afshar, M., Richards, S., Mann, D., Cross, A., Smith, G. B., Netzer, G., … Hasday, J. (2015). Acute immunomodulatory effects of binge alcohol ingestion. Alcohol, 49, 57–64.

  • Armstrong, E. A., Hamilton, L., & England, P. (2010). Is hooking up bad for young women? Contexts, 9, 22–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breen, R., Karlson, K. B., & Holm, A. (2013). Total, direct, and indirect effects in logit and probit models. Sociological Methods & Research, 42, 164–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brewster, K. L., & Tillman, K. H. (2008). Who’s doing it? Patterns and predictors of youths’ oral sexual experiences. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42, 73–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cavazos-Rehg, P. A., Krauss, M. J., Spitznagel, E. L., Schootman, M., Cottler, L. B., & Bierut, L. J. (2011). Number of sexual partners and associations with initiation and intensity of substance use. AIDS and Behavior, 15, 869–874.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chandra, A., Mosher, W. D., Copen, C., & Sionean, C. (2011). Sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual identity in the United States: Data from the 2006–2008 National Survey of Family Growth. National Health Statistics Reports, 36, 1–36.

  • Chen, P., & Jacobson, K. C. (2012). Developmental trajectories of substance use from early adolescence to young adulthood: Gender and racial/ethnic differences. Journal of Adolescent Health, 50, 154–163.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, N. G., & DiNitto, D. M. (2011). Heavy/binge drinking and depressive symptoms in older adults: Gender differences. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26, 860–868.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coker, A. L., Richter, D. L., Valois, R. F., McKeown, R. E., Garrison, C. Z., & Vincent, M. L. (1994). Correlates and consequences of early initiation of sexual intercourse. Journal of School Health, 64, 372–377.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. L., Shapiro, C. M., & Powers, A. M. (1998). Motivations for sex and risky sexual behavior among adolescents and young adults: A functional perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1528–1558.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Copen, C. E., Chandra, A., & Martinez, G. (2012). Prevalence and timing of oral sex with opposite-sex partners among females and males aged 15–24 years: United States, 2007–2010. National Health Statistics Reports, 56, 1–16.

  • Dogan, S. J., Stockdale, G. D., Widaman, K. F., & Conger, R. D. (2010). Developmental relations and patterns of change between alcohol use and number of sexual partners from adolescence through adulthood. Developmental Psychology, 46, 1747–1759.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, J. L., Forthun, L. F., Pidcock, B. W., & Dowd, D. A. (2007). Parent relationships, emotion regulation, psychosocial maturity and college student alcohol use problems. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36, 912–926.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, L. B., Miles, I. W., Austin, S. B., Camargo, C. A., & Colditz, G. A. (2007). Predictors of initiation of alcohol use among US adolescents: Findings from a prospective cohort study. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 161, 959–966.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, M. L., Worth, K., Garcia, J. R., & Meredith, T. (2012). Feelings of regret following uncommitted sexual encounters in Canadian university students. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 14, 45–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forhan, S. E., Gottlieb, S. L., Sternberg, M. R., Xu, F., Datta, S. D., McQuillan, G. M., … Markowitz, L. E. (2009). Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among female adolescents aged 14 to 19 in the United States. Pediatrics, 124, 1505–1512.

  • Gibbs, L. (2013). Gender, relationship type and contraceptive use at first intercourse. Contraception, 87, 806–812.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, S. K., Haydon, A. A., Herring, A. H., & Halpern, C. T. (2014). Longitudinal consistency in self-reported age at first vaginal intercourse among young adults. Journal of Sex Research, 51, 97–106.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, J., Chung, I. J., Hill, K. G., Hawkins, J. D., Catalano, R. F., & Abbott, R. D. (2002). Developmental relationships between adolescent substance use and risky sexual behavior in young adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health, 31, 354–362.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harden, K. P., & Mendle, J. (2011). Adolescent sexual activity and the development of delinquent behavior: The role of relationship context. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 825–838.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haydon, A. A., Herring, A. H., & Halpern, C. T. (2012). Associations between patterns of emerging sexual behavior and young adult reproductive health. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 44, 218–227.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, D. E., & Wang, M. Q. (2004). Multiple sexual-partner behavior among sexually active US adolescent girls. American Journal of Health Behavior, 28, 3–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaestle, C. E., Halpern, C. T., Miller, W. C., & Ford, C. A. (2005). Young age at first sexual intercourse and sexually transmitted infections in adolescents and young adults. American Journal of Epidemiology, 161, 774–780.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karlson, K. B., Holm, A., & Breen, R. (2012). Comparing regression coefficients between same-sample nested models using logit and probit: A new method. Sociological Methodology, 42, 286–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirby, D. (2002). Antecedents of adolescent initiation of sex, contraceptive use, and pregnancy. American Journal of Health Behavior, 26, 473–485.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kohler, U., Karlson, K. B., & Holm, A. (2011). Comparing coefficients of nested nonlinear probability models. The Stata Journal, 11, 420–438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuntsche, E., Knibbe, R., Gmel, G., & Engels, R. (2005). Why do young people drink? A review of drinking motives. Clinical Psychology Review, 25, 841–861.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, M., & Sweeten, G. (2012). Breaking up is hard to do: Romantic dissolution, offending, and substance use during the transition to adulthood. Criminology, 50, 605–636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makenzius, M., & Larsson, M. (2012). Early onset of sexual intercourse is an indicator for hazardous lifestyle and problematic life situation. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 27, 20–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malacad, B. L., & Hess, G. C. (2010). Oral sex: Behaviours and feelings of Canadian young women and implications for sex education. The European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 15, 177–185.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez, G., Copen, C. E., & Abma, J. C. (2011). Teenagers in the United States: Sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing, 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital and Health Statistics, 23(31), 1–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masters, N. T., Casey, E., Wells, E. A., & Morrison, D. M. (2013). Sexual scripts among young heterosexually active men and women: Continuity and change. Journal of Sex Research, 50, 409–420.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCabe, J., Brewster, K. L., & Tillman, K. H. (2011). Patterns and correlates of same-sex sexual activity among US teenagers and young adults. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 43, 142–150.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meier, A. M. (2003). Adolescents’ transition to first intercourse, religiosity, and attitudes about sex. Social Forces, 81, 1031–1052.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meier, A. M. (2007). Adolescent first sex and subsequent mental health. American Journal of Sociology, 112, 1811–1847.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meston, C. M., & Buss, D. M. (2007). Why humans have sex. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36, 477–507.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Milhausen, R. R., & Herold, E. S. (2001). Reconceptualizing the sexual double standard. Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 13, 63–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. W., Naimi, T. S., Brewer, R. D., & Jones, S. E. (2007). Binge drinking and associated health risk behaviors among high school students. Pediatrics, 119, 76–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ogletree, R. J., Dinger, M. K., & Vesely, S. (2001). Associations between number of lifetime partners and other health behaviors. American Journal of Health Behavior, 25, 537–544.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Okoro, C. A., Brewer, R. D., Naimi, T. S., Moriarty, D. G., Giles, W. H., & Mokdad, A. H. (2004). Binge drinking and health-related quality of life: Do popular perceptions match reality? American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 26, 230–233.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, E. L., & Hayes, K. A. (2002). The casualties of ‘casual’ sex: A qualitative exploration of the phenomenology of college students’ hookups. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 19, 639–661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, J. L., & Hyde, J. S. (2011). Gender differences in sexual attitudes and behaviors: A review of meta-analytic results and large datasets. Journal of Sex Research, 48, 149–165.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Popovici, I., & French, M. T. (2013). Binge drinking and sleep problems among young adults. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 132, 207–215.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ramrakha, S., Paul, C., Bell, M. L., Dickson, N., Moffitt, T. E., & Caspi, A. (2013). The relationship between multiple sex partners and anxiety, depression, and substance dependence disorders: A cohort study. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 42, 863–872.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sandfort, T. G., Orr, M., Hirsch, J. S., & Santelli, J. (2008). Long-term health correlates of timing of sexual debut: Results from a national US study. American Journal of Public Health, 98, 155–161.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, D. M., Aten, M. J., & Roghmann, K. J. (1998). Self-reported honesty among middle and high school students responding to a sexual behavior questionnaire. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 23, 20–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sprecher, S., McKinney, K., & Orbuch, T. L. (1987). Has the double standard disappeared? An experimental test. Social Psychology Quarterly, 50, 24–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). Results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings, NSDUH Series H-48, HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4863. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

  • Upchurch, D. M., Levy-Storms, L., Sucoff, C. A., & Aneshensel, C. S. (1998). Gender and ethnic differences in the timing of first sexual intercourse. Family Planning Perspectives, 30, 121–127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Windle, M., Mun, E. Y., & Windle, R. C. (2005). Adolescent-to-young adulthood heavy drinking trajectories and their prospective predictors. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 66, 313–322.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research used data from Add Health, a program project directed by Kathleen Mullan Harris and designed by J. Richard Udry, Peter S. Bearman, and Kathleen Mullan Harris at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and funded by Grant P01-HD31921 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, with cooperative funding from 23 other federal agencies and foundations. Special acknowledgment is due Ronald R. Rindfuss and Barbara Entwisle for assistance in the original design. Information on how to obtain the Add Health data files is available on the Add Health website (http://www.cpc.unc.edu/addhealth). No direct support was received from grant P01-HD31921 for this analysis. Giuseppina Valle Holway has received support from the Grant, 5 T32 HD007081, Training Program in Population Studies, awarded to the Population Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. An earlier version of this work was presented at the 2014 annual meeting of the Population Association of America, Boston. This article benefitted from the helpful comments of Carolyn Tucker Halpern and the anonymous reviewers on an earlier draft.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, 305 E. 23rd Street, Stop G1800, Austin, TX, 78712-1699, USA

    Giuseppina Valle Holway

  2. Center for Demography and Population Health, Department of Sociology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA

    Kathryn Harker Tillman & Karin L. Brewster

Authors
  1. Giuseppina Valle Holway
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kathryn Harker Tillman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Karin L. Brewster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giuseppina Valle Holway.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Holway, G.V., Tillman, K.H. & Brewster, K.L. Binge Drinking in Young Adulthood: The Influence of Age at First Intercourse and Rate of Sex Partner Accumulation. Arch Sex Behav 46, 525–537 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0597-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0597-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation