Alcohol Expectancies and Alcohol Outcomes: Effects of the Use of Protective Behavioral Strategies

Abstract

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 endorsing 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. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 76, 452-458, 2015)

Protective Behavioral Strategies and Alcohol Consumption: The Moderating Role of Drinking-Group Gender Composition

“…Lastly, we have demonstrated that group size moderates the relationship between PBS and alcohol consumption. These findings provide additional support to consider PBS as a moderator in alcohol consumption [30,31]. Our findings have established an important framework on group composition.…”

“…To more formally investigate this issue, it would be important to know how physical health is distributed in adolescence by peer group and education. The negative consequences of binge drinking are well established, and PBS are regarded as a good way of reducing alcohol consumption or minimizing the risks associated with it [ 31 , 36 ]. In this sense, peer relationships can play a positive and protective role in coping with the adversities [ 26 ]; and young adults who share PBS can play a positive protector role in individual and group habits regarding alcohol consumption.…”

“…PBS use was shown to be negatively associated with weekly alcohol consumption and experience of negative consequences of alcohol consumption [ 30 ]. Moreover, PBS use is negatively related to alcohol consumption because it is considered as a moderator of the relationship between certain risk factors linked to alcohol abuse and alcohol outcomes [ 31 ]. The results of earlier research have been promising but they highlight the need for continued study of factors related to alcohol consumption in order to reach clear conclusions.…”

Covid-19 and alcohol: parental drinking influences the next generation

“…Children’s beliefs regarding positive or negative effects of alcohol are influenced by watching parental drinking, can develop in a short period of time, and can serve as predictors of their current and future drinking behaviours 23. Parental alcohol use or misuse is associated with subsequent alcohol consumption and misuse in adolescence through adulthood 456.…”

Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale‐20: Psychometric properties of a French and German version among young males in Switzerland

“…A substantial body of cross-sectional research has established that the use of PBS is negatively related to alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences among young adults (i.e., college students; Araas & Adams, 2008;Benton et al, 2004;Delva et al, 2004;Martens et al, 2005;Martens et al, 2007;Pearson, 2013). Although less commonly evaluated in the literature, longitudinal research has reached similar findings, with greater use of PBS being generally related to less alcohol use Napper, Kenney, Lac, Lewis, & LaBrie, 2014) and fewer alcohol-related problems over time Grazioli, Lewis, et al, 2015;Luebbe, Varvel, & Dude, 2009;Napper et al, 2014). Further evidence for the association between the use of PBS and alcohol outcomes stems from clinical trials that found increase of PBS use following brief interventions (e.g., personalized mailed feedback) as a significant mechanism accounting for the intervention's effect on alcohol use (Barnett, Murphy, Colby, & Monti, 2007;Larimer et al, 2007), although results have not always been consistent across studies (Kulesza, Apperson, Larimer, & Copeland, 2010;Neighbors, Lee, Lewis, Fossos, & Walter, 2009;Reid & Carey, 2015).…”