Self-Esteem and Alcohol Consumption: A Study of College Drinking Behavior in a Naturalistic Setting

• NCJ Number: 184423
• Journal: Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 45 Issue: 1 Dated: Fall 1999 Pages: 60-71
• Author(s): Kent E. Glindemann; E. Scott Geller; Jason N. Fortney
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01 AA09604-05
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examines the correlation between college students’ levels of self-esteem and their consumption of alcohol.

Abstract

The study assessed 44 students’ (29 men, 15 women) levels of self-esteem and then measured their actual levels of intoxication with a breathalyzer as they were exiting a fraternity party. Participants with lower levels of self-esteem exited the party with a mean Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .126, while those with higher levels of self-esteem exited with a mean BAC of .060. In addition, a multiple regression procedure found that self-esteem accounted for 27.1 percent of the variance of exit BAC at the party. The study supported the hypothesis that students (men and women) with lower levels of self-esteem would become significantly more intoxicated than students scoring higher on a self-esteem measure. However, a trend toward a relationship between gender and self-esteem was unexpected. Women with low self-esteem became more intoxicated than men with low self-esteem and women with high self-esteem became less intoxicated than men with high self-esteem. Tables, figure, references