The assessment of young children's expectancies of alcohol versus a control substance.

Abstract

The chief purpose of the current study was to assess whether young children endorse expectancies specific to alcohol. In order to accomplish this aim, a 2 (gender of child) by 2 (gender of adult drinker) by 2 (grade level) by 2 (beverage type) repeated measure design was employed with beverage type as the repeated measure. Data were collected within elementary schools located in two Midwestern states. One hundred and twenty-four second and third graders (42% male) participated in individually structured interviews. The expectancy interview was based on the Children's Alcohol-Related Expectancy Questionnaire and assessed each child's beliefs about the desirable and undesirable consequences which adult men and women might experience after drinking alcohol (beer) and a control beverage (iced tea). The results indicated that children endorsed significantly more undesirable expectancies for beer than for iced tea, and more desirable expectancies for iced tea than for beer. In addition, children's expectancies varied as a function of the gender of the drinker. Specifically, both second- and third-graders expected more undesirable outcomes for women than for men, and second graders expected fewer desirable outcomes for women than for men, regardless of beverage. Prior to substantial experience with alcohol consumption, children have already developed expectancies for alcohol. Specifically, young elementary children endorse predominantly undesirable expectancies for beer.