Bsg. Molina et al., ALCOHOL EXPECTANCIES AND DRINKING CHARACTERISTICS IN PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER, Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 21(3), 1997, pp. 557-566
Alcohol expectancies, drinking characteristics, and their association
were examined in 587 adults: 431 parents of children with attention de
ficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 156 parents of children withou
t ADHD. In addition to examining both traditional and parenting-specif
ic alcohol expectancies for these adults, risk variables cutting acros
s the two groups were considered: single parenthood and male gender. F
ew differences in mean expectancy levels were found between parents of
children with and without ADHD, between single and married mothers, a
nd between men and women. Furthermore, expectancies did not predict dr
inking differently across groups, However, there was some support for
the utility of assessing parental expectations of alcohol's effects on
interactions with children, and there were robust and interesting eff
ects of socioeconomic status on expectancies and drinking. Single moth
ers also reported consuming higher quantities of alcohol than married
mothers. Findings are discussed in terms of the link between ADHD and
alcoholism, the ability of alcohol expectancies to explain drinking di
fferences between high risk groups, the effect of socioeconomic status
on these variables, and single motherhood as a vulnerability factor f
or increased drinking.