The development of alcohol-related expectancies from the age of 12 to the age of 15 for two Swedish adolescent samples.

Two hundred seventy-four Swedish students from grades six through nine participated in the first study. The purpose was to explore whether 12-year-old Swedish students (grade six) have formed alcohol-related expectancies prior to any own extensive drinking experience and whether alcohol-related expectancies change from the age of 12 to the age of 15 (grade nine). Results indicated that expectancies are formed at the age of 12 and that most of the expected effects are positive in nature. From the age of 12 to the age of 15 expectancies develop further in a positive direction. Background variables did not affect the results to any major degree. The results from a second, more heterogeneous sample of 146 students from grade six and grade nine, confirmed the general picture. It was concluded that adolescents do hold positive alcohol-related expectancies and that these expectancies become more positive with increasing age.