The Alcohol Self-Presentation Model: Using Thematic Qualitative Analysis to Elucidate How College Students Self-Present via Alcohol-Related Social Media Posts
Abstract
Introduction
Posting and viewing of alcohol-related content to social media is prevalent among college students and is related to problematic alcohol use. However, the cognitive self-presentation and self-monitoring processes behind users’ alcohol-related content posts to different platforms are largely unknown.
Methods
Through in-depth, qualitative interviews with college students (n = 15) who use alcohol heavily and post alcohol-related content regularly, the researchers developed the Alcohol Self-Presentation Model.
Results
Using a multi-step thematic analysis approach, the themes of protectiveness and acquisitiveness emerged; these themes served as the basis of this model. In total, three protectiveness (perceived permanence of the content, privacy and reputation concerns) factors and four acquisitiveness (provocative, impulsive, high-status, maintaining relevance and connections) factors were derived.
Discussion and Conclusions
This model delineated the alcohol self-presentations which allowed participants to demonstrate disparate versions of themselves to certain social media audiences. The results illuminated that what people identify as being alcohol-related content, and what motivates the individual to post alcohol-related content, are essential to better comprehend how their alcohol-related content uniquely contributes to their alcohol use. Understanding students’ alcohol self-presentations is important since their alcohol-related content may be putting themselves, and others, at-risk by perpetuating patterns of frequent posting and heavy alcohol use within the network. This model may inform future behavioral interventions targeting the reduction of alcohol use among young people who are active on social media.
