REASONS FOR DRINKING VERSUS OUTCOME EXPECTANCIES IN THE PREDICTION OFCOLLEGE-STUDENT DRINKING

This study developed a Reasons for Drinking Scale (RFD) with three fac torially derived subscales, Social Camaraderie, Mood Enhancement, and Tension Reduction, among a university student sample, These scales wer e then compared to a measure of alcohol expectancies, the Alcohol Expe ctancy Questionnaire (AEQ), as predictors of several measures of alcoh ol use. The RFD accounted for more of the variance on all alcohol meas ures than the AEQ. Results are discussed in terms of reasons for drink ing as a more direct assessment of cognitive motivations for drinking than outcome expectancies.