Abstract
Alcohol use among adolescents is a health-risk behavior that can result in serious consequences. Furthermore, adolescents
participate in drinking games—a risky drinking behavior designed to facilitate heavy alcohol consumption in a short period
of time. Both alcohol expectancies and drinking motives have been identified as robust correlates of alcohol consumption during
adolescence. The present study examines the direct and indirect effects of alcohol expectancies on hazardous alcohol use and
frequency of drinking game participation. Participants (n = 254) were local high school students who reported alcohol use in the past month. Structural equation models showed that
both positive expectancy outcomes and valuations were directly associated with hazardous alcohol use. Moreover, enhancement
motives significantly mediated the associations between positive expectancy outcomes and hazardous alcohol use. Finally, social
motives mediated the associations of both positive expectancy outcomes and valuations with frequency of drinking games participation
and with hazardous alcohol use. Implications for intervention and prevention programs are discussed.
participate in drinking games—a risky drinking behavior designed to facilitate heavy alcohol consumption in a short period
of time. Both alcohol expectancies and drinking motives have been identified as robust correlates of alcohol consumption during
adolescence. The present study examines the direct and indirect effects of alcohol expectancies on hazardous alcohol use and
frequency of drinking game participation. Participants (n = 254) were local high school students who reported alcohol use in the past month. Structural equation models showed that
both positive expectancy outcomes and valuations were directly associated with hazardous alcohol use. Moreover, enhancement
motives significantly mediated the associations between positive expectancy outcomes and hazardous alcohol use. Finally, social
motives mediated the associations of both positive expectancy outcomes and valuations with frequency of drinking games participation
and with hazardous alcohol use. Implications for intervention and prevention programs are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10608-011-9400-0
- Authors
- Kathryne Van Tyne, Department of Psychology, Smith College, Northampton, MA, USA
- Byron L. Zamboanga, Department of Psychology, Smith College, Northampton, MA, USA
- Lindsay S. Ham, Department of Psychology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
- Janine V. Olthuis, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Nnamdi Pole, Department of Psychology, Smith College, Northampton, MA, USA
- Journal Cognitive Therapy and Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2819
- Print ISSN 0147-5916