Journal article
Evaluating the accuracy of alcohol expectancies relative to subjective response to alcohol
Addictive behaviors, Vol.51, pp.197-203
12/2015
DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.07.027
PMCID: PMC4772766
PMID: 26291291
Abstract
Although limited in empirical support, Alcohol Expectancy (AE) theory posits that AEs may overestimate subjective response (SR) to the positive effects of alcohol, which, in turn, confers alcohol-related risk (e.g., Darkes & Goldman, 1993). The recent development of the Anticipated Effects of Alcohol Scale (AEAS; Morean, Corbin, & Treat, 2012) and the Subjective Effects of Alcohol Scale (SEAS; Morean, Corbin, & Treat, 2013) now permits direct AE–SR comparisons using psychometrically sound assessments designed for this purpose.
We ran secondary data analyses (Morean et al., 2012, 2013) evaluating measurement invariance of AEs and SR; AE–SR relationships; the accuracy of AEs; and relations between AE–SR discrepancies and binge drinking, driving after drinking, and alcohol-related problems in a sample of 102 young adults (mean age 22.81 [2.25]; 74.5% male; 76.5% Caucasian) who consumed alcohol in a simulated bar setting (target blood alcohol level=.08g/dL).
The AEAS and SEAS were scalar measurement invariant and that AEs generally overestimated SR (mean Cohen's d=.48). Relative to SR, inflated high arousal negative AEs (e.g., aggressive) were associated with frequent binge drinking and alcohol-related problems, whereas exaggerated low arousal negative AEs (e.g., woozy) served protective functions. As blood alcohol levels rose, inflated low arousal positive AEs (e.g., relaxed) and low arousal negative AEs (e.g., wobbly) were associated with less frequent driving after drinking.
Challenging AE–SR discrepancies for high arousal effects may have utility in treatment and prevention efforts, whereas maintaining overestimates of low arousal effects may serve protective functions.
•Alcohol expectancies and subjective response are theoretically related constructs.•New measures of these constructs were scalar measurement invariant.•Expectancies generally overestimated subjective response to alcohol.•Inaccurate beliefs for high arousal alcohol effects conferred alcohol-related risk.•Inaccurate beliefs for low arousal alcohol effects served protective functions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Evaluating the accuracy of alcohol expectancies relative to subjective response to alcohol
- Creators
- Meghan E Morean - Oberlin College, Department of Psychology, 120 W. Lorain St, Oberlin, OH 44074, United StatesWilliam R Corbin - Arizona State University, Department of Psychology, 651 E. University Drive, P.O. Box 871104, Tempe, AZ 85287, United StatesTeresa A Treat - University of Iowa, Department of Psychology, E11 Seashore Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Addictive behaviors, Vol.51, pp.197-203
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.07.027
- PMID
- 26291291
- PMCID
- PMC4772766
- NLM abbreviation
- Addict Behav
- ISSN
- 0306-4603
- eISSN
- 1873-6327
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2015
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984213397802771
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