Ronald Knibbe | Maastricht University, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life sciences (original) (raw)
Papers by Ronald Knibbe
Objective: Similarity in alcohol consumption among adolescent friends could be caused by the infl... more Objective: Similarity in alcohol consumption among adolescent friends could be caused by the infl uence of friends or by the selection of friends who consume similar levels of alcohol. This article aims to disentangle infl uence and selection processes while specifi cally examining changes over time in these processes and possible differences between reciprocal and nonreciprocal friendships. Method: The design was longitudinal with four observations (Time 1-Time 4 [T1-T4]). Data consisted of a longitudinal sample of 1,204 Finnish adolescents in 10 junior high schools. The main measurements were adolescents' friendship networks and alcohol consumption. For three successive periods, T1-T2, T2-T3, and T3-T4, actor-based models for the co-evolution of networks and behavior were analyzed (M age : T1 = 13.6 years, T2 = 14.6 years, T3 = 15.6 years, T4 =16.1 years). Results: Selection, as well as infl uence processes, played an important role in adolescent alcohol consumption. Infl uence was found during the fi rst period (T1-T2), whereas support for selection was found during the last two periods (T2-T3 and T3-T4). The strength of infl uence and selection processes did not differ for reciprocal and nonreciprocal friendships. Conclusions: The impact of selection and infl uence processes changed over time such that infl uence was only present during early adolescence, whereas selection was present during mid-adolescence. During early adolescence, youngsters would benefi t from learning to resist social infl uence. Alcohol-consumption prevention programs targeting mid-adolescence should consider peer selection processes. These fi ndings stress the importance of considering changes over time in future practice and research. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 73, 99-110, 2012)
Verslaving, 2007
De zorgbehoeften van langdurig verslaafden en het zorgaanbod zijn moeilijk op elkaar af te stemme... more De zorgbehoeften van langdurig verslaafden en het zorgaanbod zijn moeilijk op elkaar af te stemmen. Terwijl het juist bij dit soort moeilijk bereikbare groepen belangrijk is om aandacht te besteden aan de ervaren zorgbehoefte en aan problemen die de zorg voor hen ontoegankelijk of onaantrekkelijk maken. De auteurs beschrijven een Richtlijn Clie¨ntprofielen, waarmee via een doelgroepanalyse een stevige basis gelegd wordt voor het ontwikkelen of verbeteren van een zorgprogramma. Onder meer de problematiek, zorgbehoefte en relevante demografische kenmerken worden in kaart gebracht. Deze werkwijze kan in de gehele verslavingszorg worden toegepast.
Substance Use & Misuse, 2006
The Alcohol Expectancy Challenge (EC) is a promising program for changing alcohol expectancies an... more The Alcohol Expectancy Challenge (EC) is a promising program for changing alcohol expectancies and reducing alcohol consumption in "heavy drinking" young men in a bar-lab setting. In this study the EC was adapted for use in mixed-gender groups in a holiday setting and its feasibility tested in camping resorts in the Netherlands where a lot of binge drinking takes place (summer 2002). Male and female participants (N = 170; mean age, 18.8 years) were randomly assigned to an EC or to an assessment-only control group. One day before the intervention, alcohol expectancies were measured by a Visual Analogue Scale of arousal-sedation expectancies (VAS expectancies questionnaire). At the same time, alcohol use in everyday life and on holiday was assessed by a General Drinking Questionnaire and a 24-hour drinking diary, respectively. Twenty-four hours after the intervention, the VAS expectancies questionnaire was administered again and alcohol use over the previous 24 hours was reported in the drinking diary. Six weeks after the intervention, participants were telephoned and administered oral versions of the VAS expectancies questionnaire and General Drinking Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using mixed ANOVAs. Although the study was hampered by recruitment difficulties, the EC proved feasible in this setting, was well received by youngsters, and effects on their alcohol expectancies may have been present. No effect was found on alcohol use. In conclusion, implementation must be improved and more studies are needed to come to more definite conclusions about the value of the EC in a real-life targeted intervention.
Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2006
Aims: This study explored the suitability of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT)... more Aims: This study explored the suitability of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) for cross-national comparable estimates of problem drinking in general populations. On the item level the focus is on responsiveness to cross-national and gender differences. For the set of items the focus is on intercorrelations between items, indicating to what extent the AUDIT constitutes a scale. Methods: General population surveys from nine European countries were included. Cross-tabulations were used to analyse cross-national and gender differences in scores on the items. Reliability analysis was used to analyse intercorrelations between the items. Results: The items 'blackouts' (men and women) and 'guilt and remorse' (women) are the most frequently reported consequences. Gender differences tended to be smaller for 'guilt and remorse' and 'concern of others', and largest for 'morning drinking'. The reliability analysis shows that in eight of the nine countries frequency of drinking lowers the alpha. Injury and concern of others lead to a lower internal consistency in three countries. Conclusions: There was sufficient variation between countries in the pattern of responses and variation in gender differences to conclude that the set of consequence items was responsive to national and gender differences in problem drinking. Frequency of drinking was not a good indicator of problem drinking. The country differences in item total correlations of consequences might be due to differences in how these items are interpreted. Decisions on which items to include in an instrument to allow comparison of estimates of problem drinking cross-nationally require studies on how these items are interpreted in general populations of different countries.
Psychologie & gezondheid, 2008
Verslaving, 2013
ABSTRACT Motieven voor het drinken van alcohol zijn de redenen voor de uiteindelijke beslissing d... more ABSTRACT Motieven voor het drinken van alcohol zijn de redenen voor de uiteindelijke beslissing die iemand neemt om te gaan drinken en kunnen intern (vanuit de persoon zelf) of extern (door omgevingsfactoren) geïnitieerd worden. In deze studie wordt onderzocht welke motieven veranderingen in het drinkgedrag van Nederlandse jongeren voorspellen (H1) en of omgekeerde causaliteit, waarbij eerder drinkgedrag van jongeren toekomstige drinkmotieven voorspelt, kan worden uitgesloten (H2). In totaal hebben 454 drinkende jongeren van 13-16 jaar tweemaal een vragenlijst ingevuld (in november 2008 en november 2009). Hierin werd de Drinking Motives Questionnaire Revised afgenomen, er werd gevraagd naar hun totale wekelijkse consumptie en hoe vaak zij 6+ glazen gedronken hadden in het laatste half jaar. De resultaten geven weer dat sociale drinkmotieven, in tegenstelling tot ‘enhancement’- en ‘coping’-motieven, het meest voorspellend zijn voor een toename in de totale weekconsumptie en frequentie van 6+ drinken van jongeren. Ook kon omgekeerde causaliteit worden uitgesloten. Voor preventie betekent dit dat het algemene bewustzijn dat ook het drinken om sociale redenen schadelijk is voor jongeren, verhoogd zou moeten worden in Nederland. Ouders en andere belangrijke sociale actoren zouden een actievere rol moeten spelen in het verminderen van de beschikbaarheid van alcohol voor jongeren en het monitoren van hun drinkgedrag.
Verslaving, 2007
De zorgbehoeften van langdurig verslaafden en het zorgaanbod zijn moeilijk op elkaar af te stemme... more De zorgbehoeften van langdurig verslaafden en het zorgaanbod zijn moeilijk op elkaar af te stemmen. Terwijl het juist bij dit soort moeilijk bereikbare groepen belangrijk is om aandacht te besteden aan de ervaren zorgbehoefte en aan problemen die de zorg voor hen ontoegankelijk of onaantrekkelijk maken. De auteurs beschrijven een Richtlijn Clie¨ntprofielen, waarmee via een doelgroepanalyse een stevige basis gelegd wordt voor het ontwikkelen of verbeteren van een zorgprogramma. Onder meer de problematiek, zorgbehoefte en relevante demografische kenmerken worden in kaart gebracht. Deze werkwijze kan in de gehele verslavingszorg worden toegepast.
European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 2010
... DOI 10.1027/1015-5759/a000007 European Journal of Psychological Assessment 2010; Vol. 26(1):4... more ... DOI 10.1027/1015-5759/a000007 European Journal of Psychological Assessment 2010; Vol. 26(1):4654 © 2010 Hogrefe Publishing Page 2. Patrick, Palen, Rhoades, & Ventura, 2007) to classify ado-lescents into homogeneous risk groups based on their drinking motives. ...
Substance Use & Misuse, 2006
The Alcohol Expectancy Challenge (EC) is a promising program for changing alcohol expectancies an... more The Alcohol Expectancy Challenge (EC) is a promising program for changing alcohol expectancies and reducing alcohol consumption in "heavy drinking" young men in a bar-lab setting. In this study the EC was adapted for use in mixed-gender groups in a holiday setting and its feasibility tested in camping resorts in the Netherlands where a lot of binge drinking takes place (summer 2002). Male and female participants (N = 170; mean age, 18.8 years) were randomly assigned to an EC or to an assessment-only control group. One day before the intervention, alcohol expectancies were measured by a Visual Analogue Scale of arousal-sedation expectancies (VAS expectancies questionnaire). At the same time, alcohol use in everyday life and on holiday was assessed by a General Drinking Questionnaire and a 24-hour drinking diary, respectively. Twenty-four hours after the intervention, the VAS expectancies questionnaire was administered again and alcohol use over the previous 24 hours was reported in the drinking diary. Six weeks after the intervention, participants were telephoned and administered oral versions of the VAS expectancies questionnaire and General Drinking Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using mixed ANOVAs. Although the study was hampered by recruitment difficulties, the EC proved feasible in this setting, was well received by youngsters, and effects on their alcohol expectancies may have been present. No effect was found on alcohol use. In conclusion, implementation must be improved and more studies are needed to come to more definite conclusions about the value of the EC in a real-life targeted intervention.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2007
The purpose of this study was to test whether the link between alcohol expectancies and alcohol u... more The purpose of this study was to test whether the link between alcohol expectancies and alcohol use (drinking frequency, usual quantity, five-plus drinking) is mediated by drinking motives. Linear structural equation models were estimated based on a nationally representative sample of 5,616 8th, 9th, and 10th graders in Switzerland (51% female; mean [SD] age = 15.1 [1.0] years). In most cases, a perfect mediation occurred. Although all expectancy and motive dimensions were related to all alcohol-use measures in multivariate models, the expectancy link in multiple multivariate models was reduced to zero, whereas the motive link remained basically the same. One exception was the Tension Reduction Expectancy scale, which included aspects other than problem coping that were still related to alcohol consumption, even when coping motives were controlled for. Given the consistency of the results across different alcohol expectancies, drinking motives, and alcohol-use measures, the present study provides evidence to support one basic assumption of the motivational model of alcohol use: Drinking motives are the most proximate factor that precedes alcohol use. They are the gateway through which more distal influences (e.g., alcohol expectancies) are mediated.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2006
This study focuses on the effects of increased enforcement on marginalization of and quality of r... more This study focuses on the effects of increased enforcement on marginalization of and quality of relations between chronic drug users in the region of Parkstad Limburg (The Netherlands). Data were mainly gathered by ethnographic community fieldwork, verified by interviews with key informants and supported by a survey sample of 100 drug users. The results show direct effects of repression on stigmatization and marginalization of drug users, and on the availability of drugs. More indirect effects are the hectic reactions of drug users and dealers, greater visibility of drug users in public places, and increased tensions in and deterioration of relations between the drug users. The impact of the increased enforcement on reports of drug-related nuisance in general population surveys and on police control is also discussed.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2012
Purpose: Determining whether intensified inspections on alcohol retailers, combined with a policy... more Purpose: Determining whether intensified inspections on alcohol retailers, combined with a policy withdrawing liquor licenses if retailers are fined twice per annum, is effective in reducing adolescents' odds to initiate weekly drinking and drunkenness. Causal pathways by which the intervention was assumed to work were tested. Methods: A longitudinal (2008, 2009, and 2010) quasi-experimental comparison group design including two Dutch communities, one intervention and one comparison, was used. Outcomes were assessed by following a cohort of 1,327 adolescents (aged 13-15 years at baseline). Results: The intervention resulted in increased retail inspections but only seven sanctions and no repeated sanctions in 1 year. The intervention did not reduce adolescents' odds to initiate weekly drinking. Weekly drinking adolescents in the intervention community were at reduced risk to initiate drunkenness. This effect was not mediated by smaller increases in the frequency of adolescents' alcohol purchases or their perceived ease of purchasing alcohol. Conclusions: Intensified enforcement was effective in preventing adolescent drunkenness. No mediating causal pathways were detected. Effectiveness of enforcement could be increased by adopting enforcement methods with a high likelihood of apprehension, increasing social support for restrictive measures, and mobilizing the community to be more outspoken against adolescent (heavy) drinking.
Social Science & Medicine, 2007
Our main goal was to establish whether French and Dutch adolescents differ in rates of substance-... more Our main goal was to establish whether French and Dutch adolescents differ in rates of substance-related adverse events (e.g. fights, robbery), problems with peers or socializing agents even when controlling for pattern of substance use. For problems with peers and socializing agents due to alcohol we hypothesized that, because of stronger informal control of drinking in France, French adolescents are more likely to report problems with peers and socializing agents. For adverse events due to alcohol no difference was expected after controlling for consumption patterns. For drug-related problems, the hypothesis was that, due to the more restrictive drug policy in France, French adolescents are more likely to report problems with peers, socializing agents and adverse events. Comparable surveys based on samples of adolescent schoolchildren in France (n=9646) and the Netherlands (n=4291) were used. Data were analysed using multilevel logistic regression in which school, age and gender, indicators of substance use and country were used as predictors of substance-related problems. The outcomes show that French adolescents are more likely to report problems with peers and socializing agents due to alcohol even when consumption pattern is controlled for. For adverse events due to alcohol no difference was found between French and Dutch adolescents. For drug-related problems the expected differences were found; i.e. French adolescents are more likely to report problems with peers, socializing agents and adverse events even when controlling for pattern of drug use. It is concluded that there are culturally embedded differences in the rates of some types of problems due to alcohol or drug use. With respect to alcohol use, these differences are most likely due to culturally embedded differences in the informal social control of alcohol use. The differences in rates of drug-related problems are interpreted in the context of national differences in drug policy.
Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 2000
This paper describes educational differences in the extent and manner in which mothers teach thei... more This paper describes educational differences in the extent and manner in which mothers teach their children to eat foods they dislike. A survey among 849 mothers, who cared for children aged between 4 and 14 years in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany showed that higher‐educated mothers employed healthier and more consistent food rules than lower‐educated mothers. While lower‐educated mothers allowed
Developmental Psychology, 2013
We investigated whether the link between early pubertal timing and initiation of weekly alcohol u... more We investigated whether the link between early pubertal timing and initiation of weekly alcohol use is mediated by changes in perceived parental alcohol-specific rule setting and changes in perceived proportion of drinkers in the peer group. Longitudinal data including 3 annual waves were used to estimate the hazard for adolescents to initiate drinking alcohol using Cox proportional hazard structural equation models in 1,286 Dutch adolescents (50.2% boys) 13-14 years old at baseline in 2008. Early pubertal timing increased the risk to initiate weekly alcohol use. However, this risk was entirely mediated by a large increase in the perceived proportion of drinkers in the peer group and a large decrease in the frequency of perceived alcohol-specific rules for early pubertal timers within a period of 1 year. There is no direct risk for early pubertal timers to initiate weekly drinking per se but an indirect one via changes in their social environments, that is, a large increase in the perceived proportion of drinkers in their peer group and parents becoming more lenient in their alcohol-specific rule setting. It is important to motivate parents not to relax their alcohol-specific rule setting over time, particularly parents of early pubertal timers.
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 2007
Because young adult drinking occurs primarily in peer groups, this should be taken into account w... more Because young adult drinking occurs primarily in peer groups, this should be taken into account when studying influences on drinking behaviour. This paper aimed to assess influences on drinking by observing existing peer groups in a naturalistic setting. We first analysed the basic levels at which two types of influence take place. The first, modelling (imitating others' drinking), was found to significantly influence individual drinking, whereas for the second one, persuasion (drinking resulting from others offering drinks), no predictions were found. Subsequently, we examined whether peer group members' sociometric status in the group affected the amount of influence and persuasion exerted and received. No indications were found that sociometric status had an impact on influence in alcohol consumption within a drinking situation. Features and weaknesses of the study are discussed.
Journal of Substance Use, 2005
Aim. A cross-national comparison of perceived availability of alcoholic beverages and cannabis, a... more Aim. A cross-national comparison of perceived availability of alcoholic beverages and cannabis, and of the influence of availability on consumption of and problems due to alcohol and cannabis. Method. National surveys of school-going adolescents (14-18 years) in ...
Journal of Substance Use, 2005
Objective: Similarity in alcohol consumption among adolescent friends could be caused by the infl... more Objective: Similarity in alcohol consumption among adolescent friends could be caused by the infl uence of friends or by the selection of friends who consume similar levels of alcohol. This article aims to disentangle infl uence and selection processes while specifi cally examining changes over time in these processes and possible differences between reciprocal and nonreciprocal friendships. Method: The design was longitudinal with four observations (Time 1-Time 4 [T1-T4]). Data consisted of a longitudinal sample of 1,204 Finnish adolescents in 10 junior high schools. The main measurements were adolescents' friendship networks and alcohol consumption. For three successive periods, T1-T2, T2-T3, and T3-T4, actor-based models for the co-evolution of networks and behavior were analyzed (M age : T1 = 13.6 years, T2 = 14.6 years, T3 = 15.6 years, T4 =16.1 years). Results: Selection, as well as infl uence processes, played an important role in adolescent alcohol consumption. Infl uence was found during the fi rst period (T1-T2), whereas support for selection was found during the last two periods (T2-T3 and T3-T4). The strength of infl uence and selection processes did not differ for reciprocal and nonreciprocal friendships. Conclusions: The impact of selection and infl uence processes changed over time such that infl uence was only present during early adolescence, whereas selection was present during mid-adolescence. During early adolescence, youngsters would benefi t from learning to resist social infl uence. Alcohol-consumption prevention programs targeting mid-adolescence should consider peer selection processes. These fi ndings stress the importance of considering changes over time in future practice and research. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 73, 99-110, 2012)
Verslaving, 2007
De zorgbehoeften van langdurig verslaafden en het zorgaanbod zijn moeilijk op elkaar af te stemme... more De zorgbehoeften van langdurig verslaafden en het zorgaanbod zijn moeilijk op elkaar af te stemmen. Terwijl het juist bij dit soort moeilijk bereikbare groepen belangrijk is om aandacht te besteden aan de ervaren zorgbehoefte en aan problemen die de zorg voor hen ontoegankelijk of onaantrekkelijk maken. De auteurs beschrijven een Richtlijn Clie¨ntprofielen, waarmee via een doelgroepanalyse een stevige basis gelegd wordt voor het ontwikkelen of verbeteren van een zorgprogramma. Onder meer de problematiek, zorgbehoefte en relevante demografische kenmerken worden in kaart gebracht. Deze werkwijze kan in de gehele verslavingszorg worden toegepast.
Substance Use & Misuse, 2006
The Alcohol Expectancy Challenge (EC) is a promising program for changing alcohol expectancies an... more The Alcohol Expectancy Challenge (EC) is a promising program for changing alcohol expectancies and reducing alcohol consumption in "heavy drinking" young men in a bar-lab setting. In this study the EC was adapted for use in mixed-gender groups in a holiday setting and its feasibility tested in camping resorts in the Netherlands where a lot of binge drinking takes place (summer 2002). Male and female participants (N = 170; mean age, 18.8 years) were randomly assigned to an EC or to an assessment-only control group. One day before the intervention, alcohol expectancies were measured by a Visual Analogue Scale of arousal-sedation expectancies (VAS expectancies questionnaire). At the same time, alcohol use in everyday life and on holiday was assessed by a General Drinking Questionnaire and a 24-hour drinking diary, respectively. Twenty-four hours after the intervention, the VAS expectancies questionnaire was administered again and alcohol use over the previous 24 hours was reported in the drinking diary. Six weeks after the intervention, participants were telephoned and administered oral versions of the VAS expectancies questionnaire and General Drinking Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using mixed ANOVAs. Although the study was hampered by recruitment difficulties, the EC proved feasible in this setting, was well received by youngsters, and effects on their alcohol expectancies may have been present. No effect was found on alcohol use. In conclusion, implementation must be improved and more studies are needed to come to more definite conclusions about the value of the EC in a real-life targeted intervention.
Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2006
Aims: This study explored the suitability of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT)... more Aims: This study explored the suitability of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) for cross-national comparable estimates of problem drinking in general populations. On the item level the focus is on responsiveness to cross-national and gender differences. For the set of items the focus is on intercorrelations between items, indicating to what extent the AUDIT constitutes a scale. Methods: General population surveys from nine European countries were included. Cross-tabulations were used to analyse cross-national and gender differences in scores on the items. Reliability analysis was used to analyse intercorrelations between the items. Results: The items 'blackouts' (men and women) and 'guilt and remorse' (women) are the most frequently reported consequences. Gender differences tended to be smaller for 'guilt and remorse' and 'concern of others', and largest for 'morning drinking'. The reliability analysis shows that in eight of the nine countries frequency of drinking lowers the alpha. Injury and concern of others lead to a lower internal consistency in three countries. Conclusions: There was sufficient variation between countries in the pattern of responses and variation in gender differences to conclude that the set of consequence items was responsive to national and gender differences in problem drinking. Frequency of drinking was not a good indicator of problem drinking. The country differences in item total correlations of consequences might be due to differences in how these items are interpreted. Decisions on which items to include in an instrument to allow comparison of estimates of problem drinking cross-nationally require studies on how these items are interpreted in general populations of different countries.
Psychologie & gezondheid, 2008
Verslaving, 2013
ABSTRACT Motieven voor het drinken van alcohol zijn de redenen voor de uiteindelijke beslissing d... more ABSTRACT Motieven voor het drinken van alcohol zijn de redenen voor de uiteindelijke beslissing die iemand neemt om te gaan drinken en kunnen intern (vanuit de persoon zelf) of extern (door omgevingsfactoren) geïnitieerd worden. In deze studie wordt onderzocht welke motieven veranderingen in het drinkgedrag van Nederlandse jongeren voorspellen (H1) en of omgekeerde causaliteit, waarbij eerder drinkgedrag van jongeren toekomstige drinkmotieven voorspelt, kan worden uitgesloten (H2). In totaal hebben 454 drinkende jongeren van 13-16 jaar tweemaal een vragenlijst ingevuld (in november 2008 en november 2009). Hierin werd de Drinking Motives Questionnaire Revised afgenomen, er werd gevraagd naar hun totale wekelijkse consumptie en hoe vaak zij 6+ glazen gedronken hadden in het laatste half jaar. De resultaten geven weer dat sociale drinkmotieven, in tegenstelling tot ‘enhancement’- en ‘coping’-motieven, het meest voorspellend zijn voor een toename in de totale weekconsumptie en frequentie van 6+ drinken van jongeren. Ook kon omgekeerde causaliteit worden uitgesloten. Voor preventie betekent dit dat het algemene bewustzijn dat ook het drinken om sociale redenen schadelijk is voor jongeren, verhoogd zou moeten worden in Nederland. Ouders en andere belangrijke sociale actoren zouden een actievere rol moeten spelen in het verminderen van de beschikbaarheid van alcohol voor jongeren en het monitoren van hun drinkgedrag.
Verslaving, 2007
De zorgbehoeften van langdurig verslaafden en het zorgaanbod zijn moeilijk op elkaar af te stemme... more De zorgbehoeften van langdurig verslaafden en het zorgaanbod zijn moeilijk op elkaar af te stemmen. Terwijl het juist bij dit soort moeilijk bereikbare groepen belangrijk is om aandacht te besteden aan de ervaren zorgbehoefte en aan problemen die de zorg voor hen ontoegankelijk of onaantrekkelijk maken. De auteurs beschrijven een Richtlijn Clie¨ntprofielen, waarmee via een doelgroepanalyse een stevige basis gelegd wordt voor het ontwikkelen of verbeteren van een zorgprogramma. Onder meer de problematiek, zorgbehoefte en relevante demografische kenmerken worden in kaart gebracht. Deze werkwijze kan in de gehele verslavingszorg worden toegepast.
European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 2010
... DOI 10.1027/1015-5759/a000007 European Journal of Psychological Assessment 2010; Vol. 26(1):4... more ... DOI 10.1027/1015-5759/a000007 European Journal of Psychological Assessment 2010; Vol. 26(1):4654 © 2010 Hogrefe Publishing Page 2. Patrick, Palen, Rhoades, & Ventura, 2007) to classify ado-lescents into homogeneous risk groups based on their drinking motives. ...
Substance Use & Misuse, 2006
The Alcohol Expectancy Challenge (EC) is a promising program for changing alcohol expectancies an... more The Alcohol Expectancy Challenge (EC) is a promising program for changing alcohol expectancies and reducing alcohol consumption in "heavy drinking" young men in a bar-lab setting. In this study the EC was adapted for use in mixed-gender groups in a holiday setting and its feasibility tested in camping resorts in the Netherlands where a lot of binge drinking takes place (summer 2002). Male and female participants (N = 170; mean age, 18.8 years) were randomly assigned to an EC or to an assessment-only control group. One day before the intervention, alcohol expectancies were measured by a Visual Analogue Scale of arousal-sedation expectancies (VAS expectancies questionnaire). At the same time, alcohol use in everyday life and on holiday was assessed by a General Drinking Questionnaire and a 24-hour drinking diary, respectively. Twenty-four hours after the intervention, the VAS expectancies questionnaire was administered again and alcohol use over the previous 24 hours was reported in the drinking diary. Six weeks after the intervention, participants were telephoned and administered oral versions of the VAS expectancies questionnaire and General Drinking Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using mixed ANOVAs. Although the study was hampered by recruitment difficulties, the EC proved feasible in this setting, was well received by youngsters, and effects on their alcohol expectancies may have been present. No effect was found on alcohol use. In conclusion, implementation must be improved and more studies are needed to come to more definite conclusions about the value of the EC in a real-life targeted intervention.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2007
The purpose of this study was to test whether the link between alcohol expectancies and alcohol u... more The purpose of this study was to test whether the link between alcohol expectancies and alcohol use (drinking frequency, usual quantity, five-plus drinking) is mediated by drinking motives. Linear structural equation models were estimated based on a nationally representative sample of 5,616 8th, 9th, and 10th graders in Switzerland (51% female; mean [SD] age = 15.1 [1.0] years). In most cases, a perfect mediation occurred. Although all expectancy and motive dimensions were related to all alcohol-use measures in multivariate models, the expectancy link in multiple multivariate models was reduced to zero, whereas the motive link remained basically the same. One exception was the Tension Reduction Expectancy scale, which included aspects other than problem coping that were still related to alcohol consumption, even when coping motives were controlled for. Given the consistency of the results across different alcohol expectancies, drinking motives, and alcohol-use measures, the present study provides evidence to support one basic assumption of the motivational model of alcohol use: Drinking motives are the most proximate factor that precedes alcohol use. They are the gateway through which more distal influences (e.g., alcohol expectancies) are mediated.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2006
This study focuses on the effects of increased enforcement on marginalization of and quality of r... more This study focuses on the effects of increased enforcement on marginalization of and quality of relations between chronic drug users in the region of Parkstad Limburg (The Netherlands). Data were mainly gathered by ethnographic community fieldwork, verified by interviews with key informants and supported by a survey sample of 100 drug users. The results show direct effects of repression on stigmatization and marginalization of drug users, and on the availability of drugs. More indirect effects are the hectic reactions of drug users and dealers, greater visibility of drug users in public places, and increased tensions in and deterioration of relations between the drug users. The impact of the increased enforcement on reports of drug-related nuisance in general population surveys and on police control is also discussed.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2012
Purpose: Determining whether intensified inspections on alcohol retailers, combined with a policy... more Purpose: Determining whether intensified inspections on alcohol retailers, combined with a policy withdrawing liquor licenses if retailers are fined twice per annum, is effective in reducing adolescents' odds to initiate weekly drinking and drunkenness. Causal pathways by which the intervention was assumed to work were tested. Methods: A longitudinal (2008, 2009, and 2010) quasi-experimental comparison group design including two Dutch communities, one intervention and one comparison, was used. Outcomes were assessed by following a cohort of 1,327 adolescents (aged 13-15 years at baseline). Results: The intervention resulted in increased retail inspections but only seven sanctions and no repeated sanctions in 1 year. The intervention did not reduce adolescents' odds to initiate weekly drinking. Weekly drinking adolescents in the intervention community were at reduced risk to initiate drunkenness. This effect was not mediated by smaller increases in the frequency of adolescents' alcohol purchases or their perceived ease of purchasing alcohol. Conclusions: Intensified enforcement was effective in preventing adolescent drunkenness. No mediating causal pathways were detected. Effectiveness of enforcement could be increased by adopting enforcement methods with a high likelihood of apprehension, increasing social support for restrictive measures, and mobilizing the community to be more outspoken against adolescent (heavy) drinking.
Social Science & Medicine, 2007
Our main goal was to establish whether French and Dutch adolescents differ in rates of substance-... more Our main goal was to establish whether French and Dutch adolescents differ in rates of substance-related adverse events (e.g. fights, robbery), problems with peers or socializing agents even when controlling for pattern of substance use. For problems with peers and socializing agents due to alcohol we hypothesized that, because of stronger informal control of drinking in France, French adolescents are more likely to report problems with peers and socializing agents. For adverse events due to alcohol no difference was expected after controlling for consumption patterns. For drug-related problems, the hypothesis was that, due to the more restrictive drug policy in France, French adolescents are more likely to report problems with peers, socializing agents and adverse events. Comparable surveys based on samples of adolescent schoolchildren in France (n=9646) and the Netherlands (n=4291) were used. Data were analysed using multilevel logistic regression in which school, age and gender, indicators of substance use and country were used as predictors of substance-related problems. The outcomes show that French adolescents are more likely to report problems with peers and socializing agents due to alcohol even when consumption pattern is controlled for. For adverse events due to alcohol no difference was found between French and Dutch adolescents. For drug-related problems the expected differences were found; i.e. French adolescents are more likely to report problems with peers, socializing agents and adverse events even when controlling for pattern of drug use. It is concluded that there are culturally embedded differences in the rates of some types of problems due to alcohol or drug use. With respect to alcohol use, these differences are most likely due to culturally embedded differences in the informal social control of alcohol use. The differences in rates of drug-related problems are interpreted in the context of national differences in drug policy.
Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 2000
This paper describes educational differences in the extent and manner in which mothers teach thei... more This paper describes educational differences in the extent and manner in which mothers teach their children to eat foods they dislike. A survey among 849 mothers, who cared for children aged between 4 and 14 years in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany showed that higher‐educated mothers employed healthier and more consistent food rules than lower‐educated mothers. While lower‐educated mothers allowed
Developmental Psychology, 2013
We investigated whether the link between early pubertal timing and initiation of weekly alcohol u... more We investigated whether the link between early pubertal timing and initiation of weekly alcohol use is mediated by changes in perceived parental alcohol-specific rule setting and changes in perceived proportion of drinkers in the peer group. Longitudinal data including 3 annual waves were used to estimate the hazard for adolescents to initiate drinking alcohol using Cox proportional hazard structural equation models in 1,286 Dutch adolescents (50.2% boys) 13-14 years old at baseline in 2008. Early pubertal timing increased the risk to initiate weekly alcohol use. However, this risk was entirely mediated by a large increase in the perceived proportion of drinkers in the peer group and a large decrease in the frequency of perceived alcohol-specific rules for early pubertal timers within a period of 1 year. There is no direct risk for early pubertal timers to initiate weekly drinking per se but an indirect one via changes in their social environments, that is, a large increase in the perceived proportion of drinkers in their peer group and parents becoming more lenient in their alcohol-specific rule setting. It is important to motivate parents not to relax their alcohol-specific rule setting over time, particularly parents of early pubertal timers.
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 2007
Because young adult drinking occurs primarily in peer groups, this should be taken into account w... more Because young adult drinking occurs primarily in peer groups, this should be taken into account when studying influences on drinking behaviour. This paper aimed to assess influences on drinking by observing existing peer groups in a naturalistic setting. We first analysed the basic levels at which two types of influence take place. The first, modelling (imitating others' drinking), was found to significantly influence individual drinking, whereas for the second one, persuasion (drinking resulting from others offering drinks), no predictions were found. Subsequently, we examined whether peer group members' sociometric status in the group affected the amount of influence and persuasion exerted and received. No indications were found that sociometric status had an impact on influence in alcohol consumption within a drinking situation. Features and weaknesses of the study are discussed.
Journal of Substance Use, 2005
Aim. A cross-national comparison of perceived availability of alcoholic beverages and cannabis, a... more Aim. A cross-national comparison of perceived availability of alcoholic beverages and cannabis, and of the influence of availability on consumption of and problems due to alcohol and cannabis. Method. National surveys of school-going adolescents (14-18 years) in ...
Journal of Substance Use, 2005