Alcohol Expectancies among a Sample of Thai High School Students

The objective of this study was to identify and describe the alcohol-related expectancies of a sample of Thai high school students. A convenience sample of 2,227 high school students in Chon Buri province completed an alcohol expectancy questionnaire. The initial factor analysis was done with data from 875 questionnaires and identified four factors. The four factors were cross-validated on two separate sets of 676 questionnaires. A relationship was found between expectancies and drinking behaviors. High school students who drank alcohol had significantly greater positive expectancies for alcohol and greater expectancies that alcohol would enhance sexual performance and power. Students who did not drink had significantly greater negative expectancies for alcohol and a greater expectancy that Buddhism viewed alcohol use negatively. Frequent drinkers and students who drank alcohol in large quantities had significantly greater positive expectancies for alcohol and were more likely to believe that alcohol enhanced sex and power than infrequent drinkers and students who drank smaller quantities of alcohol. The alcohol expectancies found in this sample of Thai high school students were similar to alcohol expectancies found for adolescents in the USA, with the exception of the expectancy regarding Buddhism