Alcohol Expectancies and Heavy Drinking in Female College Students: A Comparison between Freshmen and Seniors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the alcohol outcome expectancies (positive and negative) and their respective subjective evaluations in a sample of freshman (N = 52) and senior (N = 34) college women who were identified as heavy drinkers. Participants’ drinking status was assessed by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and alcohol attitudes (i.e., expectancies and subjective evaluations) were assessed by the Comprehensive Effects of Alcohol (CEOA). Our results show a partial support for the hypotheses. No significant difference was found between the groups in positive alcohol outcome expectancies, negative alcohol outcome expectancies, or the evaluations of positive alcohol outcome expectancies. However, results revealed significant differences in the evaluations of negative alcohol expected effects: freshmen heavy drinking female students perceived negative consequences of alcohol more positively than senior heavy drinking female students. It was also found by the study that the heavy drinking senior group when recalling their freshman experience differed significantly from the current heavy drinking freshmen on the evaluations of positive alcohol outcome expectancies, and in the negative outcome expectancies. Supplemental analyses were performed and discussed on attitudes of female students identified as light/nondrinkers in our study. Based on the results of this study, several recommendations for further treatment and preventive programs for heavy drinker female college students are suggested. The strengths and limitations of the study are discussed and further research is recommended.