Introduction:

College students, a subpopulation of emerging adults, are particularly vulnerable to exhibit substance abuse and risky sexual behaviors. These behaviors put people at risk for sexually transmitted infections and/or unwanted pregnancy.

Aim:

To examine, in college students, whether the pattern of substance use (i.e., alcohol versus co-use of alcohol and marijuana) and the level of impulsivity are associated with the frequency of risky sexual behaviors with occasional partners.

Method:

A sample of 467 college students completed an online survey that assessed the frequency of risky sexual behaviors, past-year alcohol and marijuana use and trait-like impulsivity.

Results:

Alcohol/marijuana co-users, compared with alcohol users, reported a higher average of sexual partners per year and greater feelings of regret following careless sexual encounters. Co-users with medium or high levels in lack of perseverance and lack of premeditation (i.e., two facets of impulsivity) reported higher frequency of sexual encounters than alcohol users and/or students with low impulsivity.

Conclusions:

Findings suggest substance co-use, alongside different facets of impulsivity, are associated with greater frequency of specific risky sexual behaviors. These findings could better inform interventions aimed at prevent risky sexual behaviors in Argentinean college students.

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