Gender stereotypes and drinking cognitions as indicators of moderate and high risk drinking among young women and men

The study examined differences in gender stereotypes, restrained drinking a nd self-efficacy for alcohol refusal between moderate and high risk drinker s among a university sample of 301 women and 118 men. Both female and male high risk drinkers displayed a response conflict, typified by high scores o n restrained drinking but low scores on self-efficacy. This pattern of resp onse conflict was more pronounced for high risk drinking women, who also id entified poorly with feminine trails (e.g. 'nurturing', 'love children', 'a ppreciative'). The findings are discussed in relation to society's double s tandard that accepts intoxication in men but condemns it in women. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.