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Expecting That Alcohol Use Will Reduce Social Anxiety Moderates the Relation Between Social Anxiety and Alcohol Consumption

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Abstract

We examined the hypothesis that social anxiety and alcohol outcome expectancies interact in relating to the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption. Two hundred twenty-nine undergraduates completed self-report questionnaires. The results showed situational specificity of alcohol expectancies. Expecting that alcohol would reduce anxiety in social situations moderated the relation between social anxiety and alcohol consumption; no such moderating effect was found for expectancy of general tension reduction. Among those who did not expect alcohol to reduce their anxiety in social situations, high-social-anxiety participants reported lower frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption than did low-social-anxiety individuals. High- and low-social-anxiety participants who expected alcohol to reduce their social anxiety did not differ in their alcohol consumption.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. American University, Washington, DC, 20016

    Giao Q. Tran, David A. F. Haaga & Dianne L. Chambless

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  1. Giao Q. Tran
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  2. David A. F. Haaga
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  3. Dianne L. Chambless
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Tran, G.Q., Haaga, D.A.F. & Chambless, D.L. Expecting That Alcohol Use Will Reduce Social Anxiety Moderates the Relation Between Social Anxiety and Alcohol Consumption. Cognitive Therapy and Research 21, 535–553 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021857402164

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