The predictive utility of drinking refusal self-efficacy and alcohol expectancy: A diary-based study of tension reduction

The potential tension reduction effects of alcohol may be most appropriatel y tested by examining the role of alcohol related beliefs regarding alcohol 's anxiolytic properties. The relationship between affective change drinkin g refusal self-efficacy, tension reduction alcohol expectancies. and ongoin g drinking behavior was examined amongst 57 regular drinkers. Alcohol consu mption, antecedent. and consequent mood states were monitored prospectively by diary. Social leaming theory hypothesizes that low drinking refusal sel f-efficacy when experiencing a negative mood state should be associated wit h more frequent drinking when tense. Strong alcohol expectancies of tension reduction were hypothesized to predict subsequent tension reduction. Contr ary to this hypothesis, the present study found that alcohol expectancies w ere more strongly related to antecedent mood states. Only a weak relationsh ip between drinking refusal self-efficacy and predrinking tension, and betw een alcohol expectancy and subsequent tension reduction, was evident. (C) 2 000 Elsevier Science Ltd.