Sex differences in the interaction of drinking, positive expectancies and symptoms of dependence in young adults.

Abstract

Current levels of self-reported drinking amongst young adults predicted scores on measures of both positive expectancies for alcohol use and negative alcohol effects (symptoms of dependence). No overall sex difference was shown in the main effects, but there was a significant interaction effect between sex and alcohol consumption on the dependency and expectancy scales. The form of this interaction was different for expectancy and dependency scores. There was a cross-over effect in the case of expectancy: light drinking females revealed lower levels of expectancy than did light drinking males whereas heavier drinking females reported higher levels of expectancy than did males at a comparable level of consumption. There was a higher proportion of heavy female drinkers in this sample than is usually reported. With regard to dependence, the trend in sex differences was divergent: whereas males acknowledged increases in symptoms concomitant with increases in consumption, comparable female drinkers reported relatively little increase in such symptoms. Results were discussed in terms of quantity-related concepts of 'utility' of alcohol use and a 'diminished personal harm' rationalization associated with the negative effects of alcohol.