Daily self-reports of condom-protected intercourse were analyzed as a function of emotional states, alcohol consumption, and
safer sex negotiations in a sample of single, low-income Hispanic students. The sample included 15 women and 17 men who reported
a minimum of four sexual episodes as well as inconsistent condom use over a 3-month self-reporting period. The analyses focused
on 829 days out of 2,586 daily self-reports on which sexual intercourse was reported. Hierarchical linear modeling was used
to predict condom-protected intercourse as a function of mood states, substance use, and safer sex negotiations. Safer sex
negotiation was the strongest positive predictor of condom use. Contrary to expectation, unprotected intercourse was less
likely to occur in episodes characterized by greater negative affect and more likely in episodes in which greater positive
mood was reported. No main effect of alcohol consumption on safer sex was observed; however, an interaction between alcohol
consumption and positive mood emerged, indicating that unprotected intercourse was most likely to occur when positive mood
was combined with alcohol consumption. The results contradict the assumption that emotional distress predicts engagement in
more risky sexual behavior and indicate that safer sex negotiations are likely to outweigh any effects of mood or alcohol
consumption on subsequent condom use.
Keywords HIV - Condom use - Mood - Alcohol consumption - Safer sex negotiation