EXPECTANCIES FOR DRINKING AND EXCESSIVE DRINKING AMONG MEXICAN-AMERICANS AND NON-HISPANIC WHITES

This study was designed to identify the expectancies held by Mexican A mericans toward the drinking of alcoholic beverages as well as toward excessive drinking. Random samples of 534 Mexican American and 616 non -Hispanic White residents of San Jose, California and of San Antonio, Texas were interviewed over the telephone. Mexican Americans were foun d to have unique expectancies toward drinking of alcoholic beverages a nd toward excessive drinking that differed from those held by non-Hisp anic Whites. In addition, Mexican Americans expected the various outco mes in greater proportion than non-Hispanic Whites and the Mexican Ame rican respondents classified as high in acculturation tended to respon d in a manner similar to that of non-Hispanic White respondents. Multi variate analyses of variance with common (across ethnic groups) factor scales with ethnicity, gender, and drinking status as independent var iables showed main effects for drinking status and for ethnicity. The group differences in expectancies identified here support the need for culturally appropriate interventions that target group-specific belie fs.