Research Report
Alcohol expectancies in childhood: change with the onset of drinking and ability to predict adolescent drunkenness and binge drinking
Jennifer M. Jester,
Maria M. Wong,
James A. Cranford,
Anne Buu,
Hiram E. Fitzgerald,
Robert A. Zucker,
Corresponding Author
Jennifer M. Jester
University of Michigan, Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Correspondence to: Jennifer M. Jester, University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 2700, USA. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorMaria M. Wong
Department of Psychology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA
Search for more papers by this authorJames A. Cranford
University of Michigan, Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorAnne Buu
University of Michigan, Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorHiram E. Fitzgerald
Michigan State University, Department of Psychology, East Lansing, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorRobert A. Zucker
University of Michigan, Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorJennifer M. Jester,
Maria M. Wong,
James A. Cranford,
Anne Buu,
Hiram E. Fitzgerald,
Robert A. Zucker,
Corresponding Author
Jennifer M. Jester
University of Michigan, Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Correspondence to: Jennifer M. Jester, University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 2700, USA. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorMaria M. Wong
Department of Psychology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA
Search for more papers by this authorJames A. Cranford
University of Michigan, Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorAnne Buu
University of Michigan, Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorHiram E. Fitzgerald
Michigan State University, Department of Psychology, East Lansing, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorRobert A. Zucker
University of Michigan, Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Aims
We examined the relationship between alcohol expectancies in childhood and onset of drinking, binge drinking and drunkenness in adolescence and the influence of drinking onset on expectancy development.
Design
A prospective, longitudinal study of children assessed for alcohol expectancies and drinking at four time-points between ages 6 and 17 years.
Setting
Community study of families at high risk for alcoholism conducted in a four-county area in the Midwestern United States.
Participants
The study involved 614 children; 460 were children of alcoholics and 70% were male.
Measurements
Expectancies about alcohol effects were measured using the Beverage Opinion Questionnaire and child's drinking by the Drinking and Drug History—Youth Form.
Findings
Partial factor invariance was found for expectancy factors from ages 6 to 17 years. Survival analysis showed that social/relaxation expectancies in childhood predicted time to onset of binge drinking and first time drunk (Wald χ2, 1 d.f. = 3.8, P = 0.05 and 5.0, P < 0.05, respectively). The reciprocal effect was also present; when adolescents began drinking, there was an increase in social/relaxation expectancy and a concomitant increase in slope of the expectancy changes lasting throughout adolescence.
Conclusions
A reciprocal relationship exists between childhood alcohol expectancies and the development of alcohol involvement. Higher expectancies for positive effects predict earlier onset of problem drinking. Onset of use, in turn, predicts an increase in rate of development of positive expectancies.
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