Possible Precursors of Gender Drinking Differences

Abstract

This study explored the responses of sixth graders to a recently developed alcohol expectancy scale and a drinking attitude question. While factor analyses yielded the same “positive” and “negative” factors previously identified in scale construction, no significant gender differences were observed on scale items or factors. However, sixth grade males responded more favorably than their female counterparts to the general attitude item regarding alcohol consumption. Results also revealed that while male attitudes were related significantly to whether they reported observing adult intoxication in the home, female attitudes were not. Results are discussed in terms of their implication for the origins of initial male-female drinking behavior differences.