High-risk sexual behaviour & sensation seeking among heavy alcohol users.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES An association has been shown between alcohol use and high-risk sexual behaviour. One of the important variables that might mediate risky sexual behaviour among alcohol users is the sensation-seeking dimension of personality. This study was undertaken with the aim to assess the relationship between sensation seeking and sexual risk taking among heavy alcohol users admitted to a De-addiction centre. METHODS To study the above association, sensation seeking was compared between subjects admitted for treatment of alcohol dependence with (n = 30) and without (n = 30) reported high-risk sexual behaviour. RESULTS Subjects reporting high-risk sexual behaviour were found to have higher sensation seeking scores in all the domains of the sensation seeking scale compared to those without high-risk sexual behaviour. Scores on the subscale disinhibition, of the sensation seeking scale seemed to be associated with higher sexual risk taking. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION Sensation seeking as a personality variable was significantly associated with sexual risk taking behaviour among heavy alcohol users. The study indicates the need for careful assessment of personality in these individuals and emphasizes the need for further studies on a larger sample.