The relation of alcohol expectancies to alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems among college students
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships among positive and negative alcohol expectancies and alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems in a sample of Hispanic, predominantly Mexican-American, college students. It was hypothesized that positive expectancies would be positively related to alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems and that negative expectancies would be negatively related to alcohol consumption and alcohol related problems. Little is known and understood about the role of positive and negative expectancies in Hispanic college students and even less is known about how expectancies relate to alcohol related problems in this population. This study was a secondary analysis of data previously collected from participants in an alcohol risk reduction program conducted on the UTEP campus (i.e., the BASICS Program). Measures used in this study included the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), The Comprehensive Effects of Alcohol Questionnaire (CEAQ), The Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI), and the Daily Drinking Questionnaire (DDQ). Results showed that both positive and negative expectancies in a sample of Hispanic College Students were positively associated with alcohol-related problems. Findings that positive alcohol expectancies, such as Sociability and Liquid Courage, which are positively associated with alcohol-related problems are consistent with the literature presented in this study. Implications of this study suggest that interventions designed to lower drinking might focus on high expectancies in Sociability, Liquid Courage, and Risk/Aggression. Programs that help reduce alcohol consumption should tailor programs that focus on changing expectancies in inexperienced drinkers, and try other methods like Motivational Interviewing for moderate to heavy drinkers with greater likelihood of alcohol-related problems.
Subject Area
Public health
Recommended Citation
Greco, Michelle Nicholle, "The relation of alcohol expectancies to alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems among college students" (2009). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI1473866.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI1473866