The relationships between drinking problems and alcohol's harm to others: Focusing on the moderating effects of alcohol expectancies

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to explore the relationships between drinking problems and alcohol's harm to others with the moderating effects of alcohol expectancies on these relationships after controlling for demographic characteristics. Methods: Participants for this study were 1,859 men and women. We performed hierarchical regression analyses with sets of predictors (1) demographic characteristics, (2) drinking problems and alcohol expectancies, and (3) interaction terms between drinking problems and alcohol expectancies. Results: After controlling for demographic characteristics, drinking problems and alcohol expectancies had the significant effects on alcohol's harm to others in both men and women. However, the interactions between drinking problems and negative alcohol expectancy showed the significant impacts on alcohol's harm to others among men. When men had higher levels of negative alcohol expectancy, drinking problems showed stronger effects on alcohol's harm to others. Conclusions: As a result, findings from the study highlight the importance of more sophisticated public policy to prevent and to intervene drinking problems and to support those around drinkers and drinkers themselves.