INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES IN PERCEIVED RISKINESS OF DRINKING IN PREGNANCY - ANTECEDENTS AND CONSEQUENCES

Objective: This study examined whether differences in perceived riskin ess of alcohol consumption during pregnancy were related to self-repor ted alcohol consumption among a community sample of pregnant women. Fu rther, this study examined the impact of prior experiences on risk per ceptions, focusing on previous pregnancy experiences and on previous a lcohol-related problems. Method: The hypothesized relationships among variables were tested simultaneously in a structural equation model. S ubjects included 159 pregnant women, all of whom drank regularly befor e pregnancy recognition, who were recruited from prenatal clinics and through newspaper advertisements. Results: Perceived riskiness of drin king during pregnancy was lower among women who had previously given b irth to a healthy child and among women with greater numbers of previo us alcohol problems. Prior adverse pregnancy experience did not predic t perceived risk. Perceived risk negatively predicted actual alcohol c onsumption during pregnancy, suggesting that previous healthy pregnanc y experiences and alcohol problems increase drinking in pregnancy indi rectly, through perceived risk. A direct positive effect from previous alcohol problems to drinking in pregnancy also was observed. Conclusi ons: Findings suggest that risk perceptions play a role in drinking be havior among pregnant women and help to illuminate the relationship be tween parity and alcohol consumption. Interventions designed to reduce drinking among pregnant women, which have generally relied on providi ng information, may be improved by considering the impact of previous experiences and addressing erroneous beliefs.