Stress, alcohol-related expectancies and coping preferences: a replication with adolescents of the Cooper et al. (1992) model.

OBJECTIVE The present study attempted to replicate with adolescents the stressor vulnerability model of adult drinking proposed by Cooper et al. (J. Abnorm. Psychol. 101: 139-152, 1992). The Cooper et al. model simultaneously assesses the stress-moderating effects of gender, expectancies and coping on alcohol use and abuse. METHOD Adolescents in Grades 7-12 (N = 184, 59% female) completed the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire-Adolescent form, the COPE, the Adolescent Perceived Events Scale and the Drinking to Cope scale. RESULTS The pattern of results was very similar to those of earlier studies using adults or undergraduates. Generally, positive expectancies for alcohol, an avoidant coping preference and stress were predictive of drinking to cope, alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. A number of two-way interactions were also reported. Although gender did not play a prominent role in prediction, as it typically does with adults, grade was a significant predictor; older students reported more alcohol use and alcohol-related problems than younger students. CONCLUSIONS Results were similar to those reported by Cooper et al. with adults and Evans and Dunn (J. Stud. Alcohol 56: 186-193, 1995) with undergraduates, and support the utility of the stressor vulnerability model for understanding alcohol use among adolescents.