[Self-concept, alkohol expectancies and drinking habits in high school students].

AIM The study was aimed at finding relationships between self-concept, alcohol expectancies and drinking in the group of high school students. It was expected that a higher level of alcohol consumption was related to lower self-concept and positive expectancies concerning alcohol use. METHOD The group of 229 Polish high school students, 92 men and 137 women, recruited in schools, participated voluntarily in a cross sectional questionnaire study. RESULTS Significant relationships were found between alcohol consumption, gender, and both positive and negative expectancies concerning alcohol use. Results indicated a possible curvilinear relationship between self concept and alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS The expectancy theory of alcohol use found strong support in the findings. Positive alcohol expectancies facilitated drinking while negative served as inhibitors. The relationship between self-concept and drinking appeared to be more complex.