Drinking Expectancies among Chinese Young Adults: A Qualitative Study from Hong Kong

Abstract

Background: Alcohol expectancies, i.e., the perceived consequences of drinking, were reported to be an important factor in predicting drinking behaviors. However, studies in the Asia region were largely limited to school-based samples. This study aimed to be the first to explore drinking expectancies among urban Chinese young adults. Methods: In 2020, eight focus group discussions were conducted with Hong Kong Chinese young adults aged 18–34 (n = 53). The participants included heavy drinkers, light drinkers, and non-drinkers from a wide range of occupations and educational backgrounds. Thematic analysis was conducted to uncover common alcohol expectancies. Results: Six themes emerged from this study. Four themes that were commonly reported in the literature were the negative consequences of drinking, social bonding, confidence enhancement, and tension reduction. The study also uncovered two culturally relevant alcohol expectancies: health benefits and business drinking expectancies. In contrast to Western samples, Chinese young adults did not report drinking expectancies related to cognitive enhancement or increased sexual interest. Conclusion: Alcohol harm reduction strategies will need to address the positive drinking expectancies uncovered in this study. Future policy discussions in this emerging alcohol market region should consider greater scrutiny of the role of alcohol marketing in the propagation of positive drinking expectancies.

Perceived Determinants of Health-Related Behaviors Among Patients with Coronary Heart Disease After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study

“…Yan (cigarette) and jiu (alcohol) are important components in the long history and culture of China, playing important roles in celebrations, gatherings, and maintaining a working relationship. 59 , 60 Our study showed that participants smoke and drank jiu under the influence of their peers, as well as to work and make friends, which is in accordance with previous studies. 59 , 60 In Chinese culture, cigarettes are often gifted as “the name card” to business partners or employers or given as a “gift” to elders to express filial piety.…”

Development and validation of a Chinese Drinking Expectancies Questionnaire for young adults: A Hong Kong study

“…We feel that Tension Reduction subscale should be retained as a subscale as it was only factor besides Interpersonal Benefits that is significantly associated with all current drinking behaviours, future drinking behaviours and in particular, risky drinking behaviours such as binge drinking. Our previous focus group participants also reported stress release as a strong motivation for drinking in their peer groups [27,38]. In future research, revision of the questionnaire with additional items that will load on the tension reduction factor will likely improve the CDEQ‐Adult instrument.…”

“…Item generation was informed by the results of a previously conducted focus group study of 18–34‐year‐olds with a wide spectrum of educational/work backgrounds and drinking levels ( n = 53) [38]. The focus group participants were asked about their own drinking‐related expectancies and those of their peer group.…”

“…For the three domains that corresponded to the DEQ (negative drinking consequences, increased confidence and tension reduction), the DEQ items were translated in Chinese and back translated to English by bilingual researchers until equivalence was achieved. For the three new themes that emerged: (i) social bonding; (ii) business benefits; and (iii) health benefits [38], the investigators created new items based on focus group comments.…”

“…The authors identified only one population‐based study of Chinese drinkers between 18 and 34 years of age which noted that rather than personal/psychological motives, young adult drinkers attached greater importance to social/celebratory reasons for drinking [37]. A focus group study of 18–34‐year‐old young adults conducted by the authors also found three alcohol expectancies (i.e., social bonding, business benefits and health benefits) that were not captured in the Alcohol Expectancies Questionnaire, DEQ or CDEQ [38]. Hence, research based on Western models of drinking expectancies may not fully capture the motives for drinking in Chinese young adult populations.…”