SEX-ROLE ORIENTATION AND SELF-ESTEEM IN ALCOHOLIC AND NONALCOHOLIC WOMEN

Theory and research on alcoholism suggest that psychological masculini ty and femininity and self-esteem are related to drinking problems in women. In a sample of 60 alcoholic and 60 nonalcoholic women, hypothes es derived from contemporary sex-role theory were contrasted with pred ictions from a coping styles perspective. Support was found only for t he sex-role theory hypotheses. The two groups differed in levels of ma sculinity, femininity and self-esteem. These differences were reflecte d in the clustering of the low self-esteem, alcoholic women in the und ifferentiated sex-role orientation category. The high self-esteem, non alcoholic women were predominantly androgynous and masculine sex-typed . Psychological masculinity was the major factor distinguishing alcoho lic from non-alcoholic women, as well as a better predictor of self-es teem than alcoholism.