Alcohol Use and Self-Esteem of Adolescents (From Drug Abuse: Foundation for a Psychosocial Approach, P 117-128, 1984, Seymour Eiseman, Joseph A Wingard, et al, eds. - See NCJ-169972)

• NCJ Number: 169982
• Author(s): W R Mitic
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: Baywood Publishing Co, Inc.
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of drinking among a group of adolescents in Ontario, Canada, and to examine the personality characteristic of self-esteem and its relation to drinking behavior.

Abstract

School board permission was obtained to conduct the alcohol behavior study in nine schools of a large city in Ontario. Three high schools, three elementary schools, and three vocational schools were selected to participate in the study. The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory was used to assess self-esteem levels of study participants. Findings revealed 41 percent of abstainers had medium self-esteem and 31 percent had high self- esteem. Of occasional drinkers, 36 percent had low self-esteem and 35 percent had medium self-esteem. Of problem drinkers, 36 percent had low self-esteem and 34 percent had medium self- esteem. Few adolescents were able to engage in drinking on a regular basis and avoid symptoms indicative of problem drinking. Implications of the findings on the link between alcohol consumption and self-esteem are considered with respect to the school environment, academic achievement, recognition, interpersonal socialization, parental influence, and peer influence. 24 references, 5 tables, and 2 figures