This study assessed alcohol and sex-related cognitions and behaviors, including alcohol-related sexual expectancies, descriptive norms, and protective behavioral strategies, associated with women’s risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. A national sample of young adults ages 18–20 years was subset to women who were capable of pregnancy and sexually active (n = 422). The outcome was risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancy as determined by contraceptive status and heavy-episodic drinking. SAS version 9.4 was used to estimate logistic regression models. Alcohol-related sexual expectancies related to enhancement were significantly associated with increased odds of alcohol-exposed pregnancy risk. In contrast, women who reported the use of more safe sex (non-condom related) protective behavioral strategies (e.g., talk to partner about birth control use) were at decreased odds of alcohol-exposed pregnancy risk. Future interventions to reduce the risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies should consider alcohol-related sexual expectancies and safer sex protective behavioral strategies as leverage points.

这项研究评估了与酒精和性相关的认知和行为，包括与酒精相关的性期望，描述性规范和保护性的行为策略，这些与女性饮酒怀孕的风险有关。全国年龄在18至20岁之间的年轻人样本是能够怀孕和从事性活动的妇女的子集（n = 422）。结果是根据避孕状况和大量饮酒确定的酒精暴露怀孕风险。SAS版本9.4用于估计逻辑回归模型。与酒精摄入有关的性预期增强与酒精暴露的怀孕风险几率显着相关。相反，报告使用更安全的性行为（与安全套无关）的保护性行为策略（例如，与伴侣谈论节育的使用）降低了酒精暴露的怀孕风险。减少酒精暴露怀孕风险的未来干预措施应考虑与酒精相关的性期望和更安全的性保护行为策略作为杠杆点。