This study examined gender and interpersonal communication role in the
influence of alcohol advertising on young people’s drinking. Recent studies
found that interpersonal communication mediates the effects of alcohol
advertising and discourages students to adopt more positive expectancies of
drinking. This study tested whether the mediating influence is contingent on
the two genders. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires
with a cross-sectional survey of undergraduate college students. The study
used structural equation modeling to show differences in the influence
between men and women. For men, deliberation predicted a decrease in
positive alcohol expectancies, but deliberation was not associated with
attention to alcohol advertising. For women attention to advertising
predicted discussion and then deliberation, but deliberation was not related
to positive expectancies. This study concluded that discussion and
deliberation may represent an important avenue for alcohol-related
interventions in the college environment. However, those using this
approach must consider the differing effects across gender.