As the literature concerning college student drinking in the United States continues to evolve, approaches that investigate students’ psychological make-up and wellbeing have emerged as attempts to explain drinking behaviors from a more individualized perspective. Researchers frequently report drinking variations between male and female students, but very few studies direct their attention to only one of these aforementioned cohorts. The following study aimed to investigate how different measures of self-esteem and social conformity may influence the drinking behaviors of female college students.
The sample was developed by recruiting volunteers at Midwest University that met the following eligibility criteria which were determined via a stepwise screening process: female, low social belongingness, low relational self-esteem, and a history of alcohol consumption motivated by external factors. The final sample cohort consisted of 5 students (Age 22-24; 3 Caucasian, 1 African American, 1 Latina) who then participated in interviews concerning their perspectives on their personal alcohol use, their perceived social value, and their self-esteem. These interviews were designed according to an interpretive phenomenological approach (IPA) and recorded for data analysis using a software called Dedoose. Using Dedoose, the research team was able to elucidate themes, subjects, recurrences, etc. within the qualitative interview transcript data in order to formulate conclusions regarding the tested variables. Datasets were crosschecked by multiple researchers, and results were also sent to the participants in order to ensure accuracy in their presentation.
Results of the qualitative data analysis of the interview transcripts found that students reporting low self-esteem in relational settings also reported behaviors that were intended to boost this perception. Of these behaviors, binge drinking was explained by all five participants to be an activity they used to attempt to boost their perceived social self-esteem. Participants also reported binge drinking to increase the value in relationships with their peers, and that binge drinking may also be used when coping with a lack of perceived relational value or social isolation.
Takeaway: this study used a relatively unique, qualitative approach in describing binge drinking in female college students who reported low self-esteem and low relational value. Conformity behavior was found in this study cohort, and more research is needed to further elucidate factors related to binge drinking in this respective group.
Bainter TEG, Ackerman ML. Conformity Behaviors: a Qualitative Phenomenological Exploration of Binge Drinking Among Female College Students. Int J Ment Health Addiction. Published online February 25, 2021. doi:10.1007/s11469-021-00501-6