Alcohol expectancies and alcohol outcomes: Effects of the use of protective behavioral strategies

Véronique S. Grazioli, Melissa A. Lewis, Lisa A. Garberson, Nicole Fossos-Wong, Christine M. Lee, Mary E. Larimer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Alcohol expectancies (AEs) are positively associated with drinking behaviors, whereas the use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) is negatively related to alcohol outcomes among young adults. PBS have been shown to weaken relationships between some alcohol risk factors and alcohol outcomes. This study aimed to examine longitudinally the moderating effect of PBS on the relationships between AEs and alcohol outcomes among young adults. Method: Participants (N = 188; 61.7% female) were U.S. young adults participating in a larger longitudinal study. Measures of PBS, AEs, alcohol use, and related consequences were used from the baseline and 12-month followup assessments. Results: Negative binomial hurdle models found that PBS (total score) significantly moderated the relationship between positive AEs and consequences, such that among high school seniors endors ing higher positive AEs, those using more PBS in high school reported fewer negative consequences 1 year later. PBS (Manner of Drinking) also moderated the relationship between negative AEs and alcohol use, revealing the use of PBS in high school as having a protective function against later drinking among participants with high positive AEs. Last, PBS (Serious Harm Reduction) significantly moderated the associations between positive AEs and alcohol use and between negative AEs and consequences, such that participants with higher AEs and higher PBS use in high school were at greatest risk for drinking and experiencing negative consequences later. Conclusions: Overall, these findings suggest that PBS use may be protective by weakening relationships between positive AEs and alcohol outcomes. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)452-458
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
Volume76
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2015

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Alcohol expectancies and alcohol outcomes: Effects of the use of protective behavioral strategies'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this