Alcohol Expectancies as a Mediator of the Relation Between Impulsivity and Alcohol Consumption in Asian Americans

Abstract

Past research on alcohol consumption in minority groups has focused on examining differences in the level of drinking. However, research has yet to fully examine racial differences in the factors that might mediate alcohol consumption. The current study sought to test whether alcohol expectancies mediated the relation of impulsivity on alcohol consumption for an Asian American sample. Participants included 57 Asian American and 70 Caucasian undergraduate students. Results showed that positive alcohol expectancies fully mediated the pathway between dimensions of impulsivity and alcohol use for Asian Americans. For Caucasian participants, only impulsivity predicted alcohol use. Future research on alcohol use and abuse by Asian Americans should consider the role of alcohol expectancies in different social contexts.