Managing an Attractive Impression by Using Alcohol: Evidence From Two Daily Diary Studies

Abstract

Two studies investigate impression management processes and alcohol use. In both studies, participants completed the Fear of Negative Evaluation scale and then a 21-day survey. In Study 1, participants reported daily desired impression and drinking. Men drank more than women; however, this effect was stronger on days in which they wanted to appear attractive as compared to other desired impressions. In Study 2, participants reported desired attractiveness, sex-composition, and drinking during social interactions. Attractiveness desires during social interactions related positively to drinking for men when interacting with mixed-sex others, and for women when interacting with mixed- and single-sex others.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Preparation of this article was supported in part by grant T32-AA007290 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Notes

Note. Desired impression (1 = attractive, 0 = other), Gender (0 = Men, 1 = Women), Day of week (weekend = 1, weekday = 0). ERR = Event Rate Ratio; FNE = Fear of Negative Evaluation.

*p < .10. **p < .05. ***p < .001.

Note. Gender (Men = 0, Women = 1), Type of interactant (Single-sex = 0, Mixed-sex = 1), Day of week (weekend = 1, weekday = 0). FNE = Fear of Negative Evaluation; ERR = Event Rate Ratio.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.