TY - JOUR
T1 - Dysmorphic appearance concern and hazardous alcohol use in university students
T2 - the mediating role of alcohol expectancies
AU - Cunningham, Mitchell
AU - Stapinski, Lexine
AU - Griffiths, Scott
AU - Baillie, Andrew
PY - 2017/12
Y1 - 2017/12
N2 - Objective: A paucity of research has examined the link between body image concerns and alcohol use in university students. Individuals with elevated body image concerns may use alcohol due to the endorsement of expectancies that alcohol will reduce discomfort deriving from appearance concerns. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the how the link between body image concerns (i.e., dysmorphic appearance concerns) and hazardous alcohol use may be accounted for by alcohol-related expectancies. Method: Participants were 138 undergraduates (74% male) who completed an online survey that gauged dysmorphic appearance concern, alcohol use, and alcohol-related expectancies. Results: Results not only showed a link between dysmorphic appearance concern and hazardous alcohol use, but that the link between the constructs was partially mediated by positive alcohol expectancies. Moreover, individuals with elevated dysmorphic appearance concern appeared to use alcohol for their perceived sexual facilitation benefits and providing "liquid courage." Conclusions: Therapies aimed at reducing hazardous alcohol use may benefit from targeting positive alcohol expectancies in young adults with elevated dysmorphic appearance concern.
AB - Objective: A paucity of research has examined the link between body image concerns and alcohol use in university students. Individuals with elevated body image concerns may use alcohol due to the endorsement of expectancies that alcohol will reduce discomfort deriving from appearance concerns. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the how the link between body image concerns (i.e., dysmorphic appearance concerns) and hazardous alcohol use may be accounted for by alcohol-related expectancies. Method: Participants were 138 undergraduates (74% male) who completed an online survey that gauged dysmorphic appearance concern, alcohol use, and alcohol-related expectancies. Results: Results not only showed a link between dysmorphic appearance concern and hazardous alcohol use, but that the link between the constructs was partially mediated by positive alcohol expectancies. Moreover, individuals with elevated dysmorphic appearance concern appeared to use alcohol for their perceived sexual facilitation benefits and providing "liquid courage." Conclusions: Therapies aimed at reducing hazardous alcohol use may benefit from targeting positive alcohol expectancies in young adults with elevated dysmorphic appearance concern.
KW - alcohol expectancies
KW - alcohol use
KW - body image
KW - dysmorphic appearance concern
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85016057660&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/ap.12275
DO - 10.1111/ap.12275
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85016057660
SN - 0005-0067
VL - 52
SP - 424
EP - 432
JO - Australian Psychologist
JF - Australian Psychologist
IS - 6
ER -