Examining Alcohol Consumption as a Risk Factor and Sexual Interaction Competence as a Protective Factor against Sexual Victimization amongst Young Adults in the Netherlands

Abstract

This present study aims to examine if sexual interaction competence could be an effective moderator on the relationship between alcohol consumption (consumed at a party or night out) and sexual victimization (whilst intoxicated). This study is focusing on the Dutch population and more specifically on those aged 16-25. The study has a cross-sectional design, participants (n=1340) completed self- report questionnaires which assessed these three variables. To understand the relationships between our variables, logistic regression models were conducted. From the results, the study was able to yield three predictor variables of SV for female participants: alcohol consumption, sexual interaction competence and gender. However, it was not able to yield any statistical results on sexual interaction competence’s moderation effect on alcohol consumption and sexual victimization. Therefore, with these results it conveys that interaction competence may not be the most appropriate moderator on this relationship and future research needs to continue to consider other factors so that we are eventually able to find an appropriate moderator for this relationship.