Jeong Jiwon

PhD Student, Université Paris Cité

Contact: jeongjiwon402(at)gmail.com

Dissertation title: Alcohol use and sexual risk behaviour among young adults in France and in Korea

Dissertation under the direction of Laurence Simmat-Durand

Alcohol use increase the probability of engaging in risk sexual behaviors, which may result in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), cervical cancer from HPV infection, and unwanted pregnancy, etc. The relationship between alcohol consumption and risk sexual behavior is a crucial topic of study for public health, especially among adults who are the most sexually active. However, the explanation for why alcohol use leads in unsafe sexual activity has mostly been addressed from an individual or psychological standpoint, with little emphasis devoted to cultural factors such as social context, cultural values, traditions, and social norms. This may obscure both the diversity of risk group and the actual prevalence of sexual risk.

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between alcohol use and risky sexual behavior in young adults. In particuler, it will examine how social norms around sexuality and alcohol play a role in mediating the complex mechanism that exists between alcohol use and risk sexual behavior. A quantitative and qualitative research will be conducted with young adults aged 18 to 30 in two societies (French and Korean) with dissimilar cultures to examine the specificities of social norms about alcohol and sexuality. Ultimately, this work will contribute to the identifying of risk groups who are more likely to engage in alcohol-related risk sexual behaviors.