Self-Esteem Mediates the Effects of Loneliness on Problematic Alcohol Use

Abstract

Loneliness has been associated with problematic alcohol use, but it is not known whether self-perceptions mediate this relationship. In this study, the general population in China (N = 1123) and Germany (N = 1018) was surveyed to assess whether self-esteem and self-efficacy mediate the effect of loneliness on problematic alcohol use in two culturally distinct environments. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that higher AUDIT scores were negatively associated with self-esteem (b = -0.08, p