The modeling of alcohol consumption: a meta-analytic review.
OBJECTIVE
Modeling, or the imitation of another's behavior, has been proposed to influence alcohol consumption. The literature dealing with effects of modeling on alcohol consumption was reviewed using meta-analytic procedures in order to determine the strength of the modeling effect and the variables that moderate the effect.


METHODS
Thirteen studies were examined in which participant's alcohol consumption in the presence of a high consumption model was compared to a low consumption model condition or a no-model condition. Analyses were conducted for the four dependent measures utilized in the literature: amount consumed, blood alcohol concentration, number of sips taken and volume per sip. Mean effect sizes (d) were calculated for each dependent measure and moderator variables were examined.


RESULTS
Modeling had a significant effect on all four dependent measures, with the strongest effects being on amount consumed and blood alcohol concentration. In addition, analyses identified numerous variables that moderate the effect of modeling on alcohol consumption, including the drinking history of the participant, the drinking task used and the nature of the interaction between model and participant.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicated that modeling has a strong effect on alcohol consumption; however, several variables do mediate this effect.
Quigley
B M
BM
Research Institute on Addictions, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA.
Collins
R L
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015982:Bias; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D012932:Social Facilitation
D000431:Ethanol