INFLUENCE OF SOCIALLY DESIRABLE RESPONDING IN A STUDY OF STRESS AND SUBSTANCE-ABUSE

Socially desirable responding is the reluctance to admit unpopular bel iefs or behavior in order to avoid making a negative impression. It po ses a problem for researchers who rely on self-report of heavy drinkin g and drug use. The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (SDS), wh ich measures socially desirable responding, was administered to 1933 r espondents in a general population survey. The relationships between S DS and various self-report measures were examined. SDS was not correla ted with gender or race; it increased with greater age and decreased w ith higher socioeconomic status. With age and socioeconomic status con trolled, SDS had a moderate negative relationship with alcohol and dru g use, and a strong negative relationship with variables reflecting th e expression of anger. Correlations between drinking/drug use and such variables as age, marital conflict, and stressful life events were no t substantially changed by controlling for SDS. It was concluded that social desirability response bias probably results in underestimates o f rates of heavy drinking and drug use, but does not compromise the st udy of predictors of heavy drinking or drug use.