Conformity Behaviors: a Qualitative Phenomenological Exploration of Binge Drinking Among Female College Students

The present study explored binge drinking as a conformity behavior as it related to self-esteem and social acceptance in young adults. The researcher gathered information regarding the lived experience of young adults' engagement in binge drinking to increase self-esteem and social acceptance using a qualitative interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA). A purposive sample of five female college students aged 22-24 meeting the inclusion criteria via researcher-developed screening was recruited. Data was collected via face-to-face, semi-structured interviews that were then transcribed, member-checked, and analyzed according to the IPA methodology. Themes included the following: low self-esteem was associated with behavior, low self-esteem was associated with binge drinking, and low relational value was associated with binge drinking. These findings have expanded upon the existing research regarding the role of binge drinking as a conformity behavior as it impacted self-esteem and social acceptance in attempts to increase relational value in young adults.