1. Self-Esteem and Alcohol Consumption: A Study of College Drinking Behavior in a Naturalistic Setting
Kent E. Glindemann, E. Scott Geller, and Jason N. Fortney
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Journal of Alcohol & Drug Education
Volume 45 (1)
1999
p Shannon Taylor

2. Hypothesis
Students with lower levels of self-esteem will become significantly more intoxicated than students with high self-esteem.

3. Theory Students with low self esteem are likely to drink more:
To enhance positive feelings of self worth
In an effort to gain peer acceptance
To cope with anxiety, stress, or tension

4. Theoretical Construct I
Blood Alcohol Concentration
Corresponding Operational Definition:
BAC Data-Master II breathalyzer

5. Theoretical Construct II
Self Esteem
The extent to which our self-evaluations are favorable or unfavorable
Corresponding Operational Definition:
A self-esteem inventory
12 items
Rated on a 5 point Likert scale

6. Independent Variable I
Self esteem level
High or low

7. Independent Variable II
Gender
Male or female

8. Dependent Variable
Blood Alcohol Concentration level

9. Subjects
29 men & 15 women
Volunteers from a university in Southwestern Virginia
Fraternity and Sorority members

10. Study Subjects given a self-esteem assessment
Two weeks later, their blood alcohol level was taken after subjects attended a party

11. Results Mean BAC = .095 Mean self esteem score = 3.88
(Range )
Mean self esteem score = 3.88
Range
Mean score for high = 4.32
Mean score for low = 3.48
They used a 2x2 Anova

12. Main Effect Self esteem
Low self-esteem participants reached significantly higher levers of intoxication than those in the high self-esteem group.
(Main effect for gender not significant)

13. Discussion
This was one of the first studies to measure Blood Alcohol Concentration as opposed to using a self-report measure of alcohol consumption.
This is one of the only studies that did not find differences among males and females

14. Potential Confounds Drinking environment
(Big party vs. small get together)
Drinking intentions before party

15. Things to change… Larger sample More diversity in sample
Setting of party