Prenatal Alcohol Consumption: Perceptions of Harmfulness

The present study focused on the perception of harm regarding maternal alcohol consumption. Specifically, it examined the difference in perception as it pertained to parental status and educations level in order to determine if education level impacts perceptions and if parents are more likely to perceive prenatal alcohol consumption as less harmful. The Health Belief Model and the Protective Motivation Theory were used to provide a theoretical context for how perceptions impact behaviors. One hundred and seventy participants completed an online survey. Results show that neither education level nor parental status impacted perceptions of harmfulness of prenatal alcohol consumption. Results did indicate that participants were more likely to perceive hard liquor as more harmful than beer or wine to an unborn child. Results showed that participants perceived prenatal alcohol consumption during the second trimester and throughout the entire pregnancy as more harmful than the first and third trimester.