Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire Research Articles

Associations Between Expectancies of Alcohol and Drug Use, Severity of Partner Violence, and Posttraumatic Stress Among Women

Women who experience recurrent intimate partner violence (IPV) may use alcohol or drugs because they expect that these substances will help them cope with the negative physical and psychological sequelae of IPV. However, expectancies for alcohol and drug use have not been explored among this population of women. We used the Relaxation and Tension-Reduction Scale, Arousal and Aggression Scale, and Social Assertion Scale of the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire and modified its items to assess both alcohol and drug expectancies of 212 community-based, IPV-exposed women. Results of bivariate correlations showed that greater alcohol and drug expectancies were significantly correlated with greater alcohol problems and greater posttraumatic stress total and symptom severity scores. Results of a multivariate regression model showed that after controlling for demographic characteristics and history of childhood trauma, Relaxation and Tension- Reduction expectancies were associated with number of days of alcohol use, alcohol problems, physical and sexual IPV severity scores, and posttraumatic stress total and reexperiencing symptom severity scores. Expectancies do not significantly moderate the relationships between IPV, posttraumatic stress, and problematic alcohol and drug use. Given the strong relationships of expectancies with IPV severity, posttraumatic stress, and alcohol problems, expectancies may serve as targets for interventions to reduce alcohol use and problems and improve health-related outcomes in IPV-exposed women.

Are drinking habits really changing? A cross-generational test of the ‘new’ phenomenon of ‘binge-drinking’

Aims: To investigate whether ‘binge-drinking’ is new by comparing the behaviour and attitudes of two generations at the same age and of one generation at different ages.Methods: Fifty-six student/parent pairs completed questionnaires partially based on the Adolescent version of the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (Brown, S.A., Christiansen, B.A., & Goldman, M.S. (1987). The alcohol expectancy questionnaire: An instrument for the assessment of adolescent and adult alcohol expectancies. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 48, 483–491). Students’ reports of their behaviour and attitudes were compared to their parents’ memories of their behaviour and attitudes at 18. Parents’ memories were compared to their current behaviour and attitudes to explore possible lifespan effects. Data regarding the groups’ attachment to aspects of society were drawn on as a possible explanation of differences between generations.Findings: Parents recalled consuming more alcohol more frequently, having more favourable attitudes towards alcohol and having fewer ties with their communities when they were 18 than their children. They drank less and had a less favourable attitude towards alcohol at the time of the research than in their youth.Conclusions: Despite contrary ‘evidence’, it may be that today's young people are less prone to ‘binge-drinking’ than previous generations. Whilst it is recognized that data may be contaminated by parents’ ‘forgetting’, the study highlights the possibility that the ‘binge-drinking’ crisis is merely media hype, spurious, or both.

The Comprehensive Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire: Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Scale Refinement, and Further Validation

The Comprehensive Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (CAEQ; Demmel & Hagen, 2003a, 2003b) is a self-report measure designed to assess an individual’s alcohol expectancies. In this study, we examined the CAEQ in a student sample (N= 932) and in a clinical sample of alcohol-dependent inpatients (N= 744). The Five-factor structure was confirmed by means of confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent validity of the revised CAEQ was supported by showing significant relationships to quantity and frequency of drinking. The results of this study suggest that the revised CAEQ appears to be a psychometrically sound tool for the assessment of alcohol expectancies among both students and alcohol-dependent inpatients.

Construcción y valoración de las propiedades psicométricas del Cuestionario de Expectativas hacia el Alcohol para Niños de Argentina (CEA-N)

A new measure of positive and negative alcohol expectancies for children aged 8 to 12 years was developed and validated. Study 1: 117 children answered a structured open-format question to provide information regarding the effects of alcohol use that they anticipate. The pool of items obtained was analyzed by a group of three experts according to the following criteria: item correspondence with two different theoretical models and item semantic clarity. Following analysis of the agreement between judges, a set of 55 items was obtained. Study 2: 209 children answered the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire for Children (CEA-N). Internal structure was analyzed through the use of exploratory factor analysis. A principal components analysis with oblimin rotation yielded a five-factor structure. The measure was found to demonstrate good internal consistency for the global and 'risk and aggression' scales, and moderate internal consistency for the remaining four scales: sociability, relaxation, courage and negative mood. These results indicate that the CEA-N is a valid and reliable measure for assessing alcohol expectancies in Argentinean children.

Alcohol-Expectancy Dimensions and Alcohol Consumption at Different Ages in the General Population

The purpose of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional relationship between alcohol-expectancy dimensions and alcohol consumption and to examine whether this relationship is modified by age. Data from the 2003 German Epidemiological Survey on Substance Abuse were used (N = 6,099 subjects, ages 18-59 years). Alcohol expectancies were assessed using five dimensions of the Comprehensive Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire: social assertiveness, tension reduction, sexual enhancement, cognitive impairment, and aggression. Alcohol consumption within the last 30 days was assessed by the number of drinking days and a beverage-specific quantity-frequency measure. All expectancy dimensions, except for sexual enhancement, were related to alcohol consumption. Results further revealed age differences between three expectancy dimensions and alcohol consumption. The association of social assertiveness and sexual enhancement with drinking frequency, as well as with average daily intake, was stronger among younger respondents compared with respondents ages 30 years and older. In addition, older respondents with high expectations of cognitive impairment drank lower amounts of alcohol compared with younger respondents at the same level of expectation. Future research on alcohol expectancies should use multidimensional alcohol-expectancy instruments rather than measure only positive and negative alcohol expectancies. Age modifies the relationship between alcohol-expectancy dimensions and drinking and needs to be taken into account.

Expectancies toward the intake of alcohol in young adults of Bucaramanga, Colombia, 2005.

Objective: To settle down in young adults of Bucaramanga if the statistical and conceptual performance of the test AEQ-III is similar to the one reached in young adults from Mexico, and to describe the relationship of these expectancies with some variables of the context. Methods: Study of factorial validation and internal consistency. In Bucaramanga, Colombia, 156 young adults, answered 51 items of the alcohol expectancy questionnaire. A model of structural equation was developed to evaluate the goodness of fit of the factorial solution through the reason of verisimilitude Chi-square (X2) and the half quadratic approach error (RMSEA). The global internal consistency and intra expectancies were carried out with the alpha of Cronbach. The scores for the expectancies were calculated with base in additives scales. Results: The value reached for the X2 was 6921, with 1196 grades of freedom, p=0.000. The RMSEA was 0.18. The global internal consistency and for the factors, it was bigger in this sample with regard to the Mexican. Equally, all the scores means was bigger in each factor and the smallest variability (p< 0.001). Conclusion: In young adults of Bucaramanga, the internal consistency in the eight expectancies is good. However, the statistical coherence is poor. It is necessary to adapt the questionnaire to Bucaramanga culture and in other age groups, before applying their results.

Alcohol Expectancies Among High School Students in Inner Mongolia, China

This study examines differences in Chinese high school students' alcohol expectancies by drinking status (nondrinker, occasional drinker, regular drinker) and gender (male, female). The authors administered the Chinese Adolescent Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (CAEQ) to a convenience sample of 1244 high school students (M = 627; F = 617) from schools in Huhhot City and Tongliao City in Inner Mongolia, China. Differences were found in the 8 CAEQ factors (3 negative and 5 positive factors). Regular drinkers had lower negative consequences and higher positive perception expectancies than nondrinkers or occasional drinkers. Nondrinkers had higher harm to person/reputation expectancies than occasional or regular drinkers. Occasional drinkers had higher beneficial/moderation and lower harm to person/ reputation expectancies than nondrinkers. Boys had higher positive perception expectancies than girls. Expectancies are associated with Chinese adolescents' drinking. Identifying the characteristics of alcohol consuming youth can inform the development of prevention interventions and alcohol policies.

Analysis of the alcohol consumption phenomenon among adolescents: study carried out with adolescents in intermediate public education

This study aimed to evaluate the alcohol consumption phenomenon in public schools in Coimbra, Portugal (7th, 8th and 9th grades) for the implementation of a preventive program of alcohol use/abuse. This is a quantitative, descriptive and correlational study. The sample included 654 students (51.5% female) between 12 and 18 years of age. The Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire--Adolescent form (AEQ-A) and the Questionnaire of Knowledge on Alcohol were used for data collection. Results show that positive expectancy on alcohol is discriminative of consumption and occurrence of intoxication. Positive expectancy exists even before adolescents have significant experiences with alcohol consumption and increases with age, which reinforces the need for early preventive effort. These results permitted to improve the prevention program included in the school curriculum of the 7th grade students.

Expectancies towards alcohol consumption in Bucaramanga, Colombia

Expectancies such as memories, motivations and emotions towards alcohol are an important predictor of alcohol consumption in the population. The Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ-III) can measure objectively these expectancies. To study which expectancies are associated to alcohol consumption in adults living in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The AEQ-III was applied to 601 adults (334 males) aged 18 to 60 years. A binomial regression was used to determine the expectancies that were associated with alcohol consumption after adjusting for social and demographic variables. Eighty nine percent of the population consumes alcohol, without differences by age, gender, body mass index, educational or socioeconomic level. Positive expectancies related to disinhibition and feelings of power with a prevalence ratio (PR) of 1.33 (95% confidence intervals of1.06-1.67) and an age of less than 16 years when alcohol consumption started, with a PR of 1.15 (95% confidence intervals of 1.08-1.23), were the only two explanatory variables for alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption is more associated with social context and group integration than with individual behaviors.

Expectativas en el consumo de alcohol en Bucaramanga, Colombia

Expectancies such as memories, motivations and emotions towards alcohol are an important predictor of alcohol consumption in the population. The Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ-III) can measure objectively these expectancies.To study which expectancies are associated to alcohol consumption in adults living in Bucaramanga, Colombia.The AEQ-III was applied to 601 adults (334 males) aged 18 to 60 years. A binomial regression was used to determine the expectancies that were associated with alcohol consumption after adjusting for social and demographic variables.Eighty nine percent of the population consumes alcohol, without differences by age, gender, body mass index, educational or socioeconomic level. Positive expectancies related to disinhibition and feelings of power with a prevalence ratio (PR) of 1.33 (95% confidence intervals of1.06-1.67) and an age of less than 16 years when alcohol consumption started, with a PR of 1.15 (95% confidence intervals of 1.08-1.23), were the only two explanatory variables for alcohol consumption.Alcohol consumption is more associated with social context and group integration than with individual behaviors.

Application of the PTSD-alcohol expectancy questionnaire (P-AEQ) to sexually assaulted college women

Risk of alcohol use problems is an important clinical concern for women who have been sexually assaulted and experience PTSD symptoms. This study explored this risk by testing a factor structure of an alcohol expectancy questionnaire that assesses beliefs about alcohol's effects on posttraumatic stress symptoms (P-AEQ). Symptom-specific expectancy scores were then tested as predictors of alcohol consumption. Subjects were 96 female undergraduate women who reported being forced to have sex, 68 who experienced pressure to have sex, and 149 who denied any forced or pressured sex. Alternative factor models were tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. A four-factor model reflecting posttraumatic stress symptom domains (Intrusions, Avoidance, Arousal, and Numbing) was found. The numbing factor was correlated with drinking among assaulted women; however, no support was found for symptom-specific expectancies to moderate between assault and drinking. Findings supported a role for posttrauma symptom-specific alcohol expectancies as a potential link between sexual assault and alcohol consumption.

Consommation d’alcool et attentes d’effets positifs chez les jeunes adultes : approche typologique avec la méthode de classification TwoStep

The present study investigates the heterogeneity of the population of young adult drinkers with respect to alcohol consumption and Positive Alcohol Expectancies (PAEs). Based on the positive relationship between both kinds of variables, PAE is commonly viewed as a potential motivational factor of alcoholic addiction. Empirical analyses based on the regression of alcohol consumption on PAEs suppose that the observations are statistically homogeneous with respect to the level of alcohol consumption, however. We explored the existence of moderate drinkers with a high PAE profile, and abusive drinkers with a low PAE profile. 1,017 young adult drinkers, mean age=23 +/- 2.84, with various educational levels, comprising 506 males and 511 females, were recruited as voluntary participants in a survey by undergraduate psychology students from the University of Toulouse Le Mirail. They completed a French version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identifiction Test (AUDIT) and a French adaptation of the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ). Three levels of alcohol consumption were defined using the AUDIT score, and six composite scores were obtained by averaging the relevant item-scores from the AEQ. The AEQ scores were interpreted as measurement of six kinds of PAEs, namely Global positive change, Sexual enhancement, Social and physical pleasure, Social assertiveness, Relaxation, and Arousal/Power. The TwoStep cluster methodology was used to explore the data. This methodology is convenient to deal with a mix of quantitative and qualitative variables, and it provides a classification model which is optimized through the use of an information criterion as Schwarz's Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). The automatic clustering suggested five clusters, whose stability was ascertained until 75% of the sample size. Low drinkers (n=527) were split into one cluster of low PAEs (I1) and, interestingly, one cluster of high PAEs (I3, 46%). High drinkers (n=344) were split into one cluster of intermediate PAEs (II4) and one cluster of high PAEs (II5, 52%). Interestingly again, abusive drinkers (n=146) remained a single group (III2), exhibiting high PAEs. Clusters I3 and III3 comprised a significant proportion of males. Constraining the algorithm to find 6 clusters did not affect class III2, but split low drinkers into three clusters. Although the present results should be considered cautiously because of the novelty of TwoStep cluster methodology, they suggest a group of moderate drinkers with high PAEs. Also, abusive drinkers express high PAEs (except for 2 cases). Statistical homogeneity of moderate drinkers with respect to PAE variables appears as a dubious assumption.

Positive alcohol expectancies in the French context: factorial properties of data from a large sample of alcohol drinkers

A French adaptation of the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire was able to provide data with hierarchical properties predicted from Goldman et al. (Psychol. Assess. 9 (1997) 145) study. The hierarchical structure was replicated using parcelled data from a sample of 1006 adult French drinkers, mean age = 22. Using criteria of stochastic homogeneity and geometrical consistency to select the measurement variables led to a 16-item solution. As Goldman et al.’s results suggested, the general factor could be replaced by factor Arousal/Power, with an acceptable goodness-of-fit, χ 2(101, N = 1006) = 203.8. A MIMIC model suggested that the factor Arousal/Power was positively associated with a dichotomous measure of drinking habit, d = 0.83.

Validez factorial del cuestionario de expectativas hacia el consumo de alcohol (AEQ-III), en adultos de Bucaramanga, Colombia

Alcohol consumption is associated to expectancies of global positive behavioral changes, improvement in sexual performance and a higher level assertiveness. These issues are evaluated by the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ-III). To perform a factorial validation of the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ-III). The questionnaire was applied to a representative sample of 601 subjects aged 18 to 60 years (334 males). These subjects also answered a socioeconomic questionnaire. The significant variables of the questionnaire were selected using an exploratory factorial analysis. Based on the selected variables, the verification was performed using multiple models of structural equations. Four factors, namely decrease in physical tension, decrease in psychological tension, increase in expressivity and sexuality and inhibition and feelings of power, were identified as significant. The factorial solution explains 59% of the variance. All the factors are conceptually and statistically consistent, with a Cronbach alpha ranging between 0.75 and 0.83. The global internal consistency was of 0.85. Pearson correlation coefficient among factors ranged between 0.45 and 0.74. There was a significant difference among socioeconomic levels for the factors lack of inhibition and feelings of power and decrease of psychological tension. Goodness of fit statistics and parsimony were high, ranging from 0.80 to 0.93. The expectancy decrease of physical tension and decrease of psychological tension are a part of individual behavior and could predict problem drinking. The factors increase of expressiveness and sexuality and lack of inhibition and feelings of power, are more associated to group behaviors.

Alcohol involvement in Swedish University freshmen related to gender, age, serious relationship and family history of alcohol problems

The primary aim of this study was to describe alcohol involvement in relation to gender and different age cohorts among freshmen at two Swedish universities. The secondary aim was to investigate whether the results were related to a likelihood of students being in serious relationships and/or had a first-degree relative with alcohol problems. Two complete cohorts of university freshmen at two homogeneous universities were asked to participate in an intervention study, and the results of the basic assessments are presented in this article. The following instruments were used: the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Estimated Blood Alcohol Concentration (eBAC) and a shortened version of the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ). A total of 2032 (72%) freshmen agreed to participate. The mean AUDIT score was 8.8 (+/-4.9) for men and 6.0 (+4.0) for women, and there were high correlations between the AUDIT and other instruments. There were significant differences between different age groups for both men and women. Both genders were more likely to have AUDIT scores higher than the usual cut-off levels for high-risk interventions among those with first-degree heredity of alcohol problems, while those students in serious relationships were less likely to have AUDIT scores above the usual cut-off levels for high-risk interventions. This study reveals a high level of alcohol involvement among Swedish university freshmen. This is affected by age, gender, heredity of alcohol problems and serious relationships.

Alcohol expectancy responses from first year medical students: Are they prone to alcoholism?

Modern life style and affluence lead to changes in people's outlook on various habits, including alcohol intake. Some of them will fall prey to the addictive nature of the drink. Present study was done to evaluate the responses to comprehensive alcohol expectancy questionnaire (comprehensive effects of alcohol--CEOA) in order to test the tendency towards alcohol intake among the First Year Medical (MBBS) students of our college--that is, to assess the positive or negative reinforcement they would expect if they consumed alcohol. The study was done by giving a set of questionnaires to be answered by the students. Questionnaires of CEOA had 38 responses, in which both negative and positive feelings were represented. All questions were again grouped into four groups of positive and three groups of negative responses. Each question was rated to what degree they agreed, by 4-point Likert-type scale (1 = disagree, 2 = slightly disagree, 3 = slightly agree, 4 = agree). The positive and negative responses were analyzed to group them into agreeing or disagreeing type. Analysis of responses by Student 't' test and 2-way ANOVA was done to analyze the results. 'P' RESULTS: Results showed that negative expectancies outweighed positives significantly (2.8017 +/- 0.58554 vs. 2.3055 +/- 0.67604, t = 7.526; P< 0.001.). Females rated the negatives more firmly (P< 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference with respect to different religious beliefs, places of origin or incomes of the respondents. An experience of alcohol had a significant effect on the responses where they had stronger positive expectancy, which is an important point revealed in this study. In this study, we have observed a general acceptance that alcohol could provide positive reinforcement, especially among those who have had a prior experience of intake of alcohol. Thus, this study throws light on whether there is likelihood of youngsters falling into addiction in the later part of their life; hence it can act as a useful predictor for parents, health professionals, social counselors and the society as a whole so that they can take preventive measures against alcohol addiction.

“Groupdrink”? The Effect of Alcohol on Risk Attraction Among Groups Versus Individuals

The objective of the present study is to assess the impact of alcohol consumption on the risk orientation of people when they are in groups as opposed to alone. Alcohol is often consumed within social groups, but previous research has not distinguished whether particular group processes affect risk differently as a consequence of alcohol consumption. Three theory-based predictions are tested to see whether, after alcohol consumption, groups encourage or inhibit risk as a result of group polarization, deindividuation, or group monitoring. Male participants (N=120; ages 18-28), recruited via opportunity sample from students at the University of Kent, were assigned as individuals or as members of four-person groups. They had their breath alcohol concentration analyzed to ensure they were alcohol free and then were asked to consume either a placebo or alcohol in amounts equivalent to the legal limit for driving in the United States and the United Kingdom (.08% blood alcohol concentration). Participants completed a risk-attraction task either alone or in a group. Each participant also completed an alcohol-expectancy questionnaire. Individuals found risky choices significantly more attractive after consuming alcohol. In contrast, members of groups showed no such increase. In alcohol but not placebo conditions, groups made their decisions more slowly than did individuals. The results are consistent with the group-monitoring hypothesis (i.e., that group members attend to each other and promote a greater level of systematic processing of the risks presented). Results indicate that with moderate social drinking, groups may provide an informal means of mutual regulation and monitoring that can offset some aspects of alcohol myopia.

Development of Chinese adolescents alcohol expectancy questionnaire

目的 编制适合我国青少年特点的饮酒期望量表.方法采用初始量表对919名高中生进行饮酒期望实测后,利用相关系数法、逐步回归分析法和探索性因素分析法联合进行条目筛选,由保留条目组成量表测试版,同时进行初步有效性验证.结果中国青少年饮酒期望量表测试版由97个条目组成8个维度,其中总体负面因子35条目,正面社会认知因子14条目,减轻压力/愉悦因子11条目,社交礼仪因子10条目,负面个人影响因子和负面认知因子各7条目,社交促进因子5条目,饮酒获益因子8条目.量表测试版中8个维度的Cronbach系数均在0.67 和0.94之间,各条目与其维度之间最小相关系数为0.59,与其他维度最大相关系数为0.52,具有较好的内部一致性.探索性因素分析选取17个主成分,累计贡献率为75.9%,可分属于8个维度.有效性验证试验显示不同饮酒行为者具有不同的饮酒期望,量表具有一定的反应度和行为预报作用.结论中国青少年饮酒期望量表的因子框架与理论构想相符,具有较好的信度、效度和反应度,达到了编制的要求。

Buddhism and Adolescent Alcohol Use in Thailand

A sample of 2019 Thai secondary school students in grades equivalent to U.S. 10 through 12 completed a 43-item alcohol expectancy questionnaire in June 2000. Factor analysis revealed four factors: (a) positive expectancies, (b) negative expectancies, (c) sex and power expectancies, and (d) religious expectancies. Practicing Buddhists were less likely to drink than nonpracticing Buddhists and had fewer positive and more negative expectancies about alcohol. Among students who did drink, Buddhist beliefs did not appear to influence whether or not they were binge drinkers. Buddhist beliefs may influence decisions to drink but not decisions related to drinking patterns.

THE ROLE OF ALCOHOL EXPECTANCY AND DRINKING REFUSAL SELF-EFFICACY BELIEFS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENT DRINKING

University student alcohol misuse is a considerable problem. Alcohol expectancy research has contributed significantly to our understanding of problem drinking in young adults. Most of this research has investigated positive expectancy alone. The current study utilized two measures of alcohol expectancy, the alcohol expectancy questionnaire (AEQ) and the drinking expectancy profile [consisting of the drinking expectancy questionnaire (DEQ) and the drinking refusal self-efficacy questionnaire] to predict severity of alcohol dependence, frequency of drinking, and the quantity of alcohol consumed per occasion. Measures of drinking behaviour and alcohol expectancy were completed by 174 undergraduate university students. Positive alcohol expectancy factors accounted for significant variance in all three drinking indices, with the DEQ adding additional variance to AEQ scores on frequency and severity of alcohol dependence indices. Negative expectancy did not add incremental variance to the prediction of drinking behaviour in this sample. Drinking refusal self-efficacy and dependence beliefs added additional variance over positive and negative expectancies in the prediction of all three drinking parameters. Positive expectancy and drinking refusal self-efficacy were strongly related to university student drinking. The incorporation of expectancy as a means of informing prevention approaches in tertiary education shows promise.