Confirming the factor structure of the anticipated biphasic alcohol effects scale

This study of the Anticipated Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (A-BAES) examined the factor structure of expected stimulant and sedative effects on the ascending and descending limbs of the blood alcohol curve. Subjects reported the effects they anticipated they would experience immediately after drinking four drinks (ascending) and 1 1/2 hr later (descending). The proposed 4-factor model of stimulant and sedative effects on the ascending and descending limbs fit the data significantly better than single-factor, null, limb-only, and effect-only models, suggesting that the A-BAES has a confirmable structure. In addition, anticipated effects varied with limb of the blood alcohol curve, gender, and drinking habits. Anticipated stimulant effects were higher on the ascending than descending limbs; anticipated sedative effects were higher on the descending than ascending limbs. Women and men differed in their anticipated effects of alcohol, even when differences in drinking habits were controlled. Anticipated sedative effects correlated significantly with alcohol consumption, offering further support for the relation between expectancies and drinking.