SELF-ESTEEM AND SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS AS CORRELATES OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AMONG UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATES

The study investigated the influence of self-esteem and sociological factors as correlates of alcohol consumption among university undergraduates. The study employed Ex-post-facto research design. Four hypotheses were formulated and tested, using a sample of 422 students of the Faculty of Education University of Port Harcourt, with a total of 202 male students and 220 female students. Three instruments (Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale (AAIS), Rosenberg’s Self Esteem Scale (RSES), and Peer Pressure Inventory (PPI) were used to collect data for the study. Hypotheses one was tested using multiple regression analysis, while hypotheses two to four were tested with t-test statistics. Findings revealed that, self-esteem and peer pressure influenced alcohol consumption among university undergraduates while, gender did not. Based on the findings; the researcher recommended that students should be sensitized against the dangers of alcohol consumption and the factors that could predispose them to it.