[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.