An experimental study on imitation of alcohol consumption in same-sex dyads.
OBJECTIVE
In order to study the role of imitation in relation to drinking, alcohol consumption among two peers was examined with experiments in a naturalistic drinking setting.


METHODS
In a bar lab, 135 young adults (52% women) were exposed to either a non-drinking, a light-drinking or a heavy-drinking same-sex model (i.e. a confederate) in a 30-min time-out session. Instead of using a taste task (Quigley and Collins, 1999. The modeling of alcohol consumption: a meta-analytic review. J Stud Alcohol 60:90-8) in which participants were obliged to consume alcohol, in the current study, a design was used in which participants were allowed to drink alcohol but could also choose non-alcoholic beverages.


RESULTS
Craving for alcohol was included as a covariate in ANCOVAs. Results showed that the participants consumed substantially more alcohol when exposed to heavy-drinking models compared to light- and non-drinking models. Craving levels were positively related to alcohol consumption during the experiment.


CONCLUSIONS
Both men and women imitated same-sex peers' drinking behavior in an ad lib naturalistic bar setting.
Larsen
Helle
H
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. H.Larsen@pwo.ru.nl
Engels
Rutger C M E
RC
Granic
Isabela
I
Overbeek
Geertjan
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D055815:Young Adult