A Study on Alcohol Expectancy of Elementary Schoolchild

초등학생들의 음주기대에 관한 연구

Researchers' common findings is that there are positive or negative effect of alcohol expectancy on drinking behavior. Therefore we would effectively prevent troublesome drinking of the youth and university students by inquiring and controlling critical factors affecting alcohol expectancy. The purposes of this thesis are, first, to empirically test factors affecting the alcohol expectancy level of elementary schoolchild(potential drinker).; second, to suggest the necessity for development of pre-alcohol prevention programs. On the basis of previous research, eighteen factors included in four categories(general characters, environmental characters, alcohol knowledge, drinking experience) affecting alcohol expectancy level were found out. 623 subjects used in this study were drawn from 8 elementary schools in Daegu, Korea. The empirical results suggested that the alcohol expectancy level of elementary schoolchildren was negative in general. And it was proved that 9 factors were significantly correlated with alcohol expectancy level. To put it concretely(see Fig.), (1) It was proved that schoolchildren with bad environment(live in oneself, displeased drinking feeling) rather than good environment(live with parents, nice drinking feeling) for drinking had more negative alcohol expectancy. (2) Korean traditional culture that partakes of sacrificial food and drink have an influence on the first drinking of most elementary schoolchildren. And it was proved that schoolchildren with this drinking experience rather than any other motives had less negative alcohol expectancy. (3) It was proved that schoolchildren adapting themselves rather than being difficult in school life had more negative alcohol expectancy. And the more knowledge about alcohol or drinking schoolchildren had, the more they had negative alcohol expectancy (4) It was proved that schoolchildren having drinking experience or drinking at present rather than having no drinking experience or not-drinking at present had less negative alcohol expectancy. (5) It was proved that schoolchildren having strong drinking intention rather than having weak or no drinking intention in the future had more positive alcohol expectancy. Based on previous results, guideline for development of pre-alcohol prevention programs can be represented: discriminated programs development on educatee, drinking education programs development increasing the power of self-control about alcohol and drinking, social education or continuing education programs development on drinking, open preschool education to substantially prevent drinking or alcoholism etc. The findings, however, should be interpreted with caution, because this study has several limitations in measurement and sampling as follows. First, selection bias because of limited selection of sampling. It is because the subjects are drawn from only 8 elementary schools in Daegu. Second, less refined measurement ; Therefore, it is necessary to develop more detailed measures on alcohol knowledge, alcohol expectancy level especially. Further researches should be suggested and encouraged with more refined methodologies.