Development of alcohol-related expectancies in adolescents: Separating pharmacological from social-learning influences.

Abstract

Although studies have shown that expectancies can determine actual behavioral effects of alcohol, no study has yet investigated whether expectancies develop from pharmacological experience with alcohol or from social-learning factors. The present study compared these two possible influences on the development of alcohol-related expectancies by investigating adolescents in transition from nondrinking to adult drinking practices. To this end, an adolescent expectancy questionnaire was constructed for use with 1,580 subjects, aged 12 to 19. Expectancy factor structure was determined separately in 12-to 14-year-olds, 15to 16-year-olds, 17-to 19-year-olds, and very low-versus high-experience adolescent drinkers. Results showed that six expectancy factors repeated across all age groups: physical tension reduction, diversion from worry, increased interpersonal power, magical transformation of experiences, enhanced pleasure, and modification of social-emotional behavior. Five of these themes were present in adolescents wjth very little or no drinking experience. Expectancy factor content did, however, alter with increasing drinking experience and age to become more homogeneous. Hence, relatively well-developed expectancies do exist prior to alcohol usage, but pharmacological experience with alcohol crystallizes existing expectancies. The factors extracted were remarkably consistent with those from factor analytic investigations of alcohol expectancies in adults. These findings suggest that prophylactic intervention to decrease the risk of adult problem drinking must begin with children.''Rejuests for reprints should be sent to Mark S. Gold-. One of the most significant findings of this man, Department of Psychology, Wayne State Univer-investigation was that alcohol expectancies sity, Detroit, Michigan 48202.were related to individual drinking patterns.

Impact of alcohol‐promoting and alcohol‐warning advertisements on alcohol consumption, affect, and implicit cognition in heavy‐drinking young adults: A laboratory‐based randomized controlled trial

“…Whilst sensitized to personally relevant cues, heavy drinkers may be habituated to alcohol advertising's more general cues. There is evidence that increased alcohol use leads to a crystallization of alcohol expectancies (Christiansen, Goldman, & Inn, 1982), suggesting that experience with drinking strengthens existing alcohol‐related associations. Cues that are not concordant with these associations may therefore have little impact on cognition and behaviour.…”

Estudio preliminar de los determinantes cognitivos que influyen en los jóvenes argentinos para realizar un consumo intensivo de alcohol, o binge drinking*

“…Esto remite a dos situaciones: por un lado, es probable que los sujetos BD cuenten con amistades que realizan el mismo patrón de consumo (en particular, los sujetos de más edad); y, por otro lado, en los sujetos más jóvenes, podría asociarse a la presión impuesta por el grupo, factor asociado al modelado del consumo de alcohol (35). Este dato implica que la presión social no es un determinante de importancia en la realización de dicha conducta.…”

Influencing Inhalant Intentions by Changing Socio-Personal Expectations

“…However, a consistent pattern emerges in the general drug expectancy literature: Those who use substances perceive greater benefits or fewer costs than those who do not (Budd et al 1983;Christiansen et al 1982;Stacy et al 1991). Expectations regarding the outcomes of substance use are predictive of alcohol use (Brown 1985;Christiansen et al 1989;Stacy et al 1991), marijuana use (Stacy et al 1996 and tobacco consumption (Halpern-Felsher et al 2004).…”

“…In their discussion of alcohol expectancies, Christiansen et al (1982) stated, "...expectancy factors are conveyed by family, peer group, and the media as well as by observation of other individuals" (p. 342). If the media can create expectations, they may be capable of changing them as well.…”