NCJ Number
167274
Journal
Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 32 Issue: 10 Dated: (August 1997) Pages: 1261-1285
Date Published
1997
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This study developed a Reasons for Drinking Scale (RFD) with three factorially derived subscales--Social Camaraderie, Mood Enhancement, and Tension Reduction.
Abstract
Using a sample of first-year psychology students at the University of South Australia that included 156 males and 264 females, the scales were compared to a measure of alcohol outcome expectancies, the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire, as predictors of several measures of alcohol use. Respondents were asked to indicate frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption during the past 30 days on a 6-point scale. A list of 43 items covering a wide range of personal, physical, social, school, and work- related negative consequences of drinking was developed to assess problem drinking. The RFD accounted for more of the variance among all alcohol measures than alcohol outcome expectancies, suggesting the RFD assessed cognitions that were more directly related to the decision to drink. The finding that the social environment played a stronger role in frequent and excessive alcohol use among students than alcohol outcome expectancies was consistent with other studies indicating most college students drink to excess. Students who drank primarily to enhance mood states experienced the most alcohol-related problems. The questionnaire used to assess consequences of alcohol use is appended. 80 references and 7 tables