A COMPARISON OF FACTOR STRUCTURES OF ADOLESCENT AND ADULT ALCOHOL EFFECT EXPECTANCIES

A comparison of the factor structures of alcohol effect expectancies o f adults (aged 18 and older) and adolescents (aged 12-17) was conducte d. Data were from a nationally representative sample of United States residents. Two factors were extracted for the adults, and three for th e adolescents. General positive and negative factors were common to ea ch solution. In addition, the adolescent solution contained a factor r elated to alcohol-induced sexual enhancement. The pattern and magnitud e of the loadings for the adult and adolescent negative factor were ne arly identical, and the positive factors were very similar. Results ar e consistent with a two-factor model of alcohol expectancies among adu lts, with slightly more differentiated expectancies among adolescents.