Self-efficacy for refusal mediated by outcome expectancies in the prediction of alcohol-dependence amongst young adults

The present study examined the relative importance of outcome expectancies and self-efficacy [1] in the prediction of alcohol dependence [2] and alcoh ol consumption in a sample of young adult drinkers drawn from a milieu prev iously reported as supportive of risky drinking. In predicting alcohol depe ndence, outcome expectancies were found to mediate self-efficacy and the sa me pattern was found for both males and females. This suggests that male an d female drinkers may become more similar as they progress along the drinki ng continuum from risky drinking to dependent drinking. However, in women, in comparison to men, a greater array of expectancies and self-efficacy sca les were found to predict heavy drinking, as measured by quantity and frequ ency. These results suggest that heavy drinking women are particularly at r isk of developing drinking related complications and that preventative educ ation needs to take into account gender differences.