Expectativas en el consumo de alcohol en Bucaramanga, Colombia / Expectancies towards alcohol consumption in Bucaramanga, Colombia

ABSTRACT

Background: Expectancies such as memories, motivations and emotions towards alcohol are an important predictor of alcohol consumption in the population. The Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ-III) can measure objectively these expectancies. Aim: To study which expectancies are associated to alcohol consumption in adults living in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Material and methods: The AEQ-III was applied to 601 adults (334 males) aged 18 to 60 years. A binomial regression was used to determine the expectancies that were associated with alcohol consumption after adjusting for social and demographic variables. Results: Eighty nine percent of the population consumes alcohol, without differences by age, gender, body mass index, educational or socioeconomic level. Positive expectancies related to disinhibition and feelings of power with a prevalence ratio (PR) of 1.33 (95 percent confidence intervals of1.06-1.67) and an age of ¡ess than 16 years when alcohol consumption started, with a PR of 1.15 (95 percent confidence intervals of 1.08-1.23), were the only two explanatory variables for alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Alcohol comsuption is more associated to social context and group integration than with individual behaviors.