Are dating and sexual Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS) associated with alcohol-related consequences at all levels of alcohol use?

Alcohol use is common among college students and often linked to negative consequences. Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) can reduce alcohol use and related harms. This study examined whether dating/sexual PBS provide unique protective effects beyond alcohol PBS. We tested three hypotheses: (1) dating/sexual PBS would predict fewer drinks at follow up, controlling for alcohol PBS; (2) dating/sexual PBS would predict fewer alcohol-related consequences at follow up, controlling for alcohol PBS; and (3) drinks per week would moderate the association between dating/sexual PBS and consequences, with stronger protection for heavier drinkers. Participants (n = 324; 78.1% female, Mage = 19.2, SD = 2.2, 71.3% White) completed baseline and 1-month follow-up surveys measuring alcohol PBS, dating/sexual PBS, typical drinks per week, and alcohol-related consequences. Baseline dating/sexual PBS did not predict follow-up drinks per week after controlling for alcohol PBS, logistic regression χ²(7) = 100.59, Cragg-Uhler R² = .281. However, dating/sexual PBS predicted fewer follow-up alcohol-related consequences (incident rate ratios IRR = 0.73, p = .022), with drinks per week moderating this effect. Contrary to expectation, dating/sexual PBS were protective at low levels of drinking (IRR = 0.57, p = .002) but not at high levels (IRR = 0.88, p = .391). Dating/sexual PBS reduce alcohol-related consequences over 1-month, particularly among students with low to average drinking levels. These findings emphasize the importance of both alcohol-specific and dating/sexual PBS in college alcohol risk reduction interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).