Self-esteem and problem drinking among male and female college students

The current study examined the relationship between level of alcohol consumption and self-esteem for college males and females. Due to the large number of heavy drinkers among the college population, individuals identified as potential problem drinkers were the focus of this study. Significant differences in total consumption were found between males and females. In addition, the relationship between alcohol consumption and self-esteem was moderated by gender. For females, heavy drinkers exhibited the lowest self-esteem, with scores increasing as consumption decreased. For males, there were no significant differences between groups, although heavier drinkers tended to have slightly higher self-esteem scores.