title: Alcohol Expectancies Mediate the Relationship Between Age of First Intoxication and Drinking Outcomes in College Binge Drinkers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While prior research has shown that age of first intoxication (AI) is associated with negative alcohol outcomes, limited research has examined factors accounting for this relationship. Alcohol expectancies, or beliefs about the effects of alcohol, may explain such associations as both positive and negative expectancies have been shown to be key predictors of drinking outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study examined expectancies as mediators between early AI and alcohol-related outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collection occurred in 2012 and 2013. Participants were college students (N = 562, 65.8% women) who completed an online survey including measures of alcohol use history, alcohol expectancies, typical alcohol consumption, and alcohol-related problems. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings support a model whereby AI is associated with drinking through its influence on both positive and negative expectancies. Specifically, an earlier AI was associated with stronger alcohol expectancies, which in turn, was associated with heavier alcohol use and alcohol-related problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings are consistent with expectancy theory and previous research suggesting that more experienced drinkers hold stronger drinking-related beliefs, be it positive or negative, and these expectancies ultimately explain variability in alcohol use and problems. Our findings further support that expectancies play an important role in the initiation of drinking behavior.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Old Dominion University , Norfolk , Virginia , USA.
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stamates
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Old Dominion University , Norfolk , Virginia , USA.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lau-Barraco
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Old Dominion University , Norfolk , Virginia , USA.
authors.forename: Ashley N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Linden-Carmichael
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067292:Alcohol Drinking in College / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age of first intoxication; alcohol problems; alcohol use; negative expectancies; positive expectancies