The Altered Course of Learning: How Alcohol Outcome Expectancies Are Shaped by First Drinking Experiences.

ABSTRACT: According to expectancy theory, outcome expectancies are first formed vicariously (through observing other people) and then through direct experience. This cohort-sequential longitudinal study explored these expectancy origins in 1,023 youths (52% female, ages 10.5-15.5 years at recruitment, M = 12.47 years, SD = 0.95). Discontinuous multilevel growth models described patterns of change in expectancies before and after the first experience of distinct drinking milestones (i.e., first sip, first full drink, first heavy-drinking situation). Youths' expectations for positive and negative drinking outcomes generally increased and decreased over adolescence, respectively, reflecting general developmental trends. Drinking experiences altered learning trajectories, however, reifying

SUBMITTER: Treloar Padovano H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7874356 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature