TY - JOUR PY - 2019// TI - Disentangling the relationship between self-esteem and problematic alcohol use among college students: evidence from a cluster analytic approach JO - Alcohol and alcoholism A1 - Gierski, Fabien A1 - De Wever, Elodie A1 - Benzerouk, Farid A1 - Lannoy, Séverine A1 - Kaladjian, Arthur A1 - Naassila, Mickaël A1 - Quaglino, Veronique SP - ePub EP - ePub VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - AIMS: Investigation of the relationship between self-esteem and alcohol use among college students has yielded discrepant results. We hypothesized that these discrepancies could originate from a potential heterogeneity of self-esteem patterns among young adult with an alcohol use disorder (AUD).

METHODS: A community sample of 343 college students was recruited and categorized with or without AUD using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test cut-offs. College students were compared on the dimensions of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (CSEI) as well as mood, impulsiveness, alcohol- and other substance-related measures, including drinking motives.

RESULTS: A cluster analysis conducted among college students with AUD highlighted two subgroups characterized by contrasting patterns on the CSEI: one group with a high level of self-esteem and low levels of anxiety and depression symptoms and one group with a low level of self-esteem and high levels of impulsiveness, mood symptoms and drinking to cope motives.

CONCLUSION: Findings caution against assuming that AUD is associated with low self-esteem, as reported in previous studies. These results rather emphasize a heterogeneity of self-esteem in college students, showing that high self-esteem was also related to AUD. Implications of these results are major for prevention purposes and clinical practice.

© The Author(s) 2019. Medical Council on Alcohol and Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0735-0414 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agz097 ID - ref1 ER -