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The Drinking Expectancy Questionnaire: A revised measure of alcohol-related beliefs

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Abstract

Alcohol-related expectancies have been recently proposed as potentially important determinants of drinking behavior. This study describes the development of a New Zealand measure of such beliefs, the Drinking Expectancy Questionnaire (DEQ). Items selected through interviews, literature review, and the modification of other relevant questionnaires were piloted on 333 drinkers in a community sample and 275 college students. Factor analyses of both samples revealed nine alcohol reinforcement domains relating to assertiveness, affective change, sexual enhancement, social enhancement, relaxation, cognitive impairment, dependence, carelessness, and aggression. The potential clinical and research possibilities using this revised expectancy measure are briefly discussed, along with the scale's strength and weaknesses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Clinic, Queensland University, 4067, St Lucia, QLD, Australia

    Ross McD Young

  2. Psychology Department, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Robert G. Knight

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  1. Ross McD Young
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  2. Robert G. Knight
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The financial assistance of the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council of New Zealand in conducting this study is gratefully acknowledged.

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Young, R.M., Knight, R.G. The Drinking Expectancy Questionnaire: A revised measure of alcohol-related beliefs. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 11, 99–112 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00962702

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00962702

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