Journal article
Differences in Patterns of Alcohol Use and Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviours Among Sexually Active Australian and Overseas-Born Domestic and International University Students in Australia
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol.23(5), pp.1-14
2026
Abstract
Alcohol use has been linked to sexual risk-taking behaviour, particularly among young people in Australia, who are also substantially represented in sexually transmissible infection (STI). While research on alcohol use and sexual risk-taking among university students in Australia exists, no studies outside recent Tertiary Students Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey (TSSHS) publications have distinguished between Australian-born and overseas-born domestic students, despite evidence that migrant populations may show different alcohol use and sexual behaviour patterns. Using data from the TSSHS and a cross-sectional anonymous online survey of university-enrolled students, this study is the first to compare sexually active Australian-born domestic, overseas-born domestic, and international students on alcohol use and sexual risk-taking. Findings align with past research, with Australian-born domestic students being more likely to consume alcohol at high-risk levels than international and overseas-born domestic students. Differences in sexual risk-taking behaviours between the three enrolment groups were fully mediated by harmful alcohol use, indicating an indirect effect between group membership and sexual risk-taking. Age moderated this mediation, with the association between harmful drinking and sexual risk-taking strongest among students aged 20–24, compared with younger and older groups.
Details
- Title
- Differences in Patterns of Alcohol Use and Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviours Among Sexually Active Australian and Overseas-Born Domestic and International University Students in Australia
- Authors
- Alex Leong (Corresponding Author) - University of Southern QueenslandErich C Fein - University of Southern QueenslandKirstie Daken (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastJudith A Dean - The University of QueenslandSara F E Bell - The University of QueenslandJoseph Debattista - Metro North Health (Australia, Herston)Armin Ariana - Griffith UniversityKathryn Wenham - University of the Sunshine CoastJoanne Durham - Queensland University of TechnologyCharles F Gilks - The University of QueenslandZhihong Gu - Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia)Amy B Mullens - University of Southern Queensland
- Publication details
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol.23(5), pp.1-14
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.3390/ijerph23050547
- ISSN
- 1660-4601
- Copyright note
- © 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
- Data Availability
- Data from this project is stored securely by the research team and is available for review upon request by appropriate fellow researchers.
- Grant note
- Funding was gained for the original pilot study (Tertiary Students Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey: South East Queensland) from multiple sources which included; QUT PHSW KickStart Grant, UQ HIV STI Professoriate Chair Discretionary Seed Research Grant, Griffith University Dean of Medicine Seed Funding, Metro North Hospital and Health Services, community organisations and participating universities to cover salaries and travel expenses of the principal investigators, co-investigators and steering committee members.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Psychology; School of Health - Public Health
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991223529002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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