The relationship between religiosity, ethnic identification, and alcohol expectancies in a Jewish population

It has previously been shown that alcohol expectancies mediate patterns of alcohol consumption. One factor that influences attitudes toward alcohol consumption is the level of religious involvement. A common finding in epidemiological research on alcoholism has found that Jewish-Americans have relatively low rates of alcoholism. It has been postulated that this low rate may be attributable to less positive attitudes toward alcohol consumption than those held by the general population. The current research employed a case-control design where Jewish-Americans completed the Jewish Identity Scale (JIS), the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ), and the Religious Background and Behavior Questionnaire (RBB). A regression analysis was done to determine if there was a correlation between Jewish identity and attitudes toward alcohol consumption, and between religiosity and attitudes toward alcohol consumption. Results indicated that there is a moderate relationship between JIS and some factors of the AEQ in a Reform Jewish population and a moderate relationship between the RBB and some factors of the AEQ in a Conservative Jewish population and amongst Jewish women. There appears to be some evidence that a Jewish population has more positive attitudes toward alcohol consumption when they are more religious and/or have a stronger Jewish identity. This attitude may mediate higher levels of alcohol use in a Jewish population, but further research is needed to determine how these expectations affect patterns of alcohol use and misuse.