A Diary Study of Implicit Self-esteem, Interpersonal Interactions and Alcohol Consumption in College Students

Abstract

A 30-day daily diary study examined the relations among implicit self-esteem, interpersonal interactions, and alcohol consumption in college students. Multilevel analyses revealed that students with low implicit self-esteem drank more on days when they experienced more negative interpersonal interactions. In contrast, students with high implicit self-esteem drank more on days when they experienced more positive interpersonal interactions. Spending time with people who were drinking mediated both the low implicit self-esteem by negative interpersonal events interaction and the high implicit self-esteem by positive interpersonal events interaction. These findings suggest that people with low implicit self-esteem may unintentionally drink as a way to regulate unfulfilled needs for acceptance. On the other hand, people with high implicit self-esteem may drink as a way to enhance positive interpersonal experiences.

Figure 1

Predicting alcohol consumption from implicit self-esteem and negative interpersonal interactions.

Figure 2

Probability of being with others drinking from implicit self-esteem and negative interpersonal interactions.

Figure 3

The role of being with people drinking in mediating the implicit self-esteem X negative interpersonal events interaction predicting drinking.

Figure 4

Predicting alcohol consumption from implicit self-esteem and positive interpersonal interactions.

Figure 5

Probability of being with others drinking from implicit self-esteem and positive interpersonal interactions.

Figure 6

The role of being with people drinking in mediating the implicit self-esteem X positive interpersonal events interaction predicting drinking.