Positive expectancies mediate the link between race and alcohol use in a sample of Native American and Caucasian college students

• Published in: Addictive behaviors Vol. 73; pp. 53 - 56
• Main Authors: Looby, Alison, Luger, Elizabeth J, Guartos, Cynthia S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2017; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking in College - ethnology; Alcohol Drinking in College - psychology; Alcohol use; Alcohols; Anticipation, Psychological; Attitude to Health; College students; Colleges & universities; Drinking; Drinking behavior; European Continental Ancestry Group - ethnology; European Continental Ancestry Group - psychology; Expectancy; Expectancy effects; Expectancy theories; Female; Humans; Indians, North American - ethnology; Indians, North American - psychology; Male; Midwestern United States - epidemiology; Minority & ethnic groups; Native Americans; Native North Americans; Psychiatry; Race; Retrospective Studies; White people; Young Adult; United States > US; Alcohol; College students; Native Americans; Expectancy effects
• ISSN: 0306-4603; 1873-6327
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.04.019

Abstract Background: Though abundant research suggests that Native Americans report high rates of alcohol use and related consequences, little research has examined drinking patterns among Native American college students. It is possible that drinking rates for this group may differ from their non-college counterparts and also from those of Caucasian college students. The aim of this study was to examine whether alcohol use differs between Native American and Caucasian college students, and specifically whether alcohol expectancy effects mediate the relationship between race and drinking. Method: Participants were 43 Native American and 87 Caucasian college students who reported on their positive and negative expectancy effects and past-6-month drinking. Results: Caucasians reported drinking significantly more alcohol and holding stronger positive expectancies. Bootstrapping mediational analysis with 95% confidence intervals indicated that positive but not negative expectancy effects mediated the relationship between race and past-6-month drinking. Conclusions: This preliminary research is the first to examine expectancy effects as mediators of the relationship between Native American and Caucasian race and drinking. Further understanding of the differences in positive expectancy effects between groups may have important implications for prevention and treatment of alcohol use among Native American college students.