Individual differences in the "Greek effect" on risky drinking: the role of self-consciousness.
Although the environmental influence of Greek affiliation on drinking has been established, little is known about intrapersonal characteristics that make individuals susceptible to this influence. Self-consciousness (attending to one's self) was hypothesized to represent dispositional vulnerability to environmental influence. The potential moderating effect of self-consciousness on the relation between Greek involvement and drinking was examined longitudinally among college students (N = 319). The effect of Greek status was moderated by private and public self-consciousness and by gender. Specifically, non-Greek members' drinking was not influenced by self-consciousness. However, sorority members increased drinking as private self-consciousness increased, whereas fraternity members increased drinking as private and public self-consciousness decreased. These findings indicate that the "Greek effect" interacts with individual characteristics to affect drinking.
Department of Psychological SciencesUniversity of Missouri--Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. apqzb@mizzou.edu
Aesoon
A
Park
Kenneth J
KJ
Sher
Jennifer L
JL
Krull
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires