Exploring sexual motivations underlying substance use: Gender perspectives, substance categories and substance use disorder severity

Sex under the influence of substances is a common sexual practice. Although they could explain engagement in sex under the influence of substances, few studies have explored sexual motivations driving substance use. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study aims to investigate differences in sexual motivations across genders and substance categories, and the link between substance use severity and sexual motivations. In all, 188 adults (aged 18-74) took part in a comprehensive assessment interview addressing substance use (& Eacute;valuation int & eacute;gr & eacute;e sp & eacute;cialis & eacute;e en d & eacute;pendance), including three sexual motivation items for three substance categories (alcohol, cannabis, other substances), and substance use severity (WMH-CIDI). Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and generalized estimating equations were used to compare sexual motivations among substance categories between men and women. A logistic regression assessed whether substance use severity could influence the presence of sexual motivations when considering gender and age. Results revealed an interaction between gender and substance categories on sexual motivations. Men were more likely to present sexual motivations and exhibited greater sex-related substance use motivations than women for substances other than alcohol and cannabis. Moreover, higher substance use severity scores were associated with the presence of sexual motivations for substance use. This study underscores the need to develop gender-sensitive interventions that consider sexual motivations underlying substance use. Consideration of sexual motivations could help identify the needs fulfilled by substance use and prevent triggers arising from sexual situations. Being among the first studies on the subject, continuing research in this area to further investigate sexual motivations underlying substance use remains essential.