Table 1.
Summary of studies assessing relationships between neuropsychological functioning and RSB
| Study | Sample Size | Age | Sample Characteristics | Neurocognitive Measures | Neurocognitive Functions Assessed | Measure of Risky Sexual Behavior | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aklin, Lejuez, Zvolensky, Kahler, & Gwadz, 2005 | N = 51 | M = 14.8 (9th – 12th grade) | Male = 51% African American/black = 98% |
BART-Y | Risk-taking | Sex without a condom | Risk-taking not related to condom use |
| Bornovalova, Gwadz, Kahler, Aklin & Lejuez, 2008 | N = 96 | 13 – 18 | Male = 52% African American/black = 100% |
BART-Y | Risk-taking | Sex without a condom | Risk-taking mediated relationship between physical, emotional and sexual abuse with HIV risk behavior which included sex without a condom |
| Derefinko et al., 2014 | N = 135 | 17–26 | Male = 100% Race/ethnicity not reported |
BART, Go/No-Go Task | Risk-taking and inhibitory control | Total number of partners, number of times had sex with a stranger, sex without a condom use | Risk-taking associated with number of partners and ever having sex with a stranger |
| Golub, Starks, Kowalczyk, Thompson, & Parsons, 2012 | N = 130 | M = 30 | Male = 100% Non-Hispanic white = 38% Gay or bisexual = 100% Substance users = 100% |
Counting Span, Wisconsin Card Sorting Task, Go/No-Go Task, IGT and IGT-variant | Executive Function Profiles (i.e., low on all measures, high on all measures and low only on IGT) | Number of anal sex acts, number of times had unprotected anal sex or had sex with HIV serdiscordant main partner | Low performing group had higher numbers of high risk sex acts and high risk sex acts under the influence compared to low IGT group |
| Gonzalez et al., 2005 | N = 263 | M = 44.1 | Male = 87% African American/black = 91% Met criteria for substance dependence or abuse = 97% HIV + = 41% |
IGT, delayed non-matching to sample, stroop task—reaction time version | Decision-making, working memory, inhibitory control | Total score calculated with variables like frequency of condom use, number of partners, number of times paid for sex, etc. | HIV+ status, sensation seeking and better decision-making associated with RSB |
| Khurana, Romer, Betancourt, Brodsky, Ginnetta & Hurt, 2012 | N = 347 | 10–12 years old at baseline, follow-up assessment 3 and 4 fours years later | Male = 48% Non-Hispanic white = 55% |
Digit Span, Corsi Block, Tapping, Letter two-back, Object two-back, Spatial working memory | Working Memory, Impulsivity-acting without thinking and temporal discounting, sensation seeking | Age of sex initiation | Working memory and impulsivity were associated with age of sexual debut |
| Khurana, Romer, Betancourt, Brodsky, Ginnetta & Hurt, 2015 | N = 387 | 9–12 years old at baseline, follow-up assessment 3 and 4 fours years later | Male = 48% Non-Hispanic white = 56% |
Corsi block tapping, Digit span backwards, Object two-back, Spatial working memory | Working memory, acting without thinking and inability to delay gratification, sensation seeking | Ever had vaginal sex and vaginal sex without a condom | Weak working memory predicts more RSB, even when parental influence is controlled |
| Lejuez et al., 2007 | N = 98 | M = 14.8 (9th – 12th grade) | Male = 52% African American/black = 100% |
BART-Y | Risk-taking | Sex without a condom | Risk-taking was associated with risk composite score that included having sex without a condom |
| Lejuez et al., 2002 | N = 86 | 18–25 | Male = 50% Non-Hispanic white = 75% |
BART | Risk-taking | Sex without a condom | Risk-taking associated with having sex without a condom |
| Lejuez et al., 2004 | N = 76 | 21–58 | Male = 76% African American/black = 91% In-patient at substance use residential treatment center = 100% |
BART | Risk-taking | Sex without a condom | Risk-taking related to RSB |
| Nydegger, Ames, Stacy & Grenard, 2014 | N = 196 | M = 31.26 | Male = 67% Hispanic = 55% Drug diversion clients = 100% |
Go/No-Go Task | Inhibitory control | Sex without a condom | Greater drug use problems predicted more RSB, however, only among those with poorer inhibitory control |
| Ross, Coxe, Schuster, Rojas & Gonzalez, 2015 | N = 79 | 17–24 | Male = 64% Non-Hispanic white = 48% |
IGT | Decision-making | Age of vaginal sex initiation and number of oral sex partners | Poorer decision-making and more cannabis use moderated the relationship between more conduct disorder symptoms and more RSB. |
| Schuster, Crane, Mermelstein & Gonzalez, 2012 | N = 66 | M = 20.77 | Male = 62% Non-Hispanic white = 38% Cannabis users = 100% |
Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, IGT, BART, GoStop Task, Monetary Choice Questionnaire | Memory, decision-making, risk-taking, inhibitory control, delayed discounting | Number of STIs and unplanned pregnancies | Greater cannabis use and poorer performance on the IGT and BART associated with more RSB |
| Wardle, Gonzalez, Bechara, & Martin-Thormeyer, 2010 | N = 190 | M = 43.53 | Male = 79% African American/black = 93% Met criteria for substance dependence or abuse = 100% HIV + = 100% |
IGT, delayed non-matching to sample, stroop task—reaction time version | Decision-making, working memory, inhibitory control | Total score calculated with variables like frequency of condom use, number of partners, number of times paid for sex, etc. | Greater emotional distress and more sensation seeking was associated with more RSB but only among those with better decision-making |