The Feminine Self-Concepi of Alcoholic Women

Abstract

The relationship between alcoholism in women and feminine self-concept was examined using a researcher-developed instrument and a demographic questionnaire that were administered to 122 female subjects-78 nonalcoholics, who were drawn from community organizations in the area, and 44 alcoholics, who were selected from five New York State treatment centers and one chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous. The nonalcoholic women tended to perceive themselves as being closer to their ideal selves as women, which suggests that they had a higher feminine self-concept than did the alcoholic women. Suggestions are made for elevating the self-concept of alcoholic women in social work practice.

Enhancing Self-Esteem as a Strategy for Treating Female Alcoholics

“…Enhancing Self-Esteem as a Strategy for Treating Female Alcoholics Carolyn Bersak, DSW, CSW Although the literature (Beckman, 1984;Bersak, 1988;Clarke, 1983;Covington, 1986;Cushman, 1984;Gomberg, 1979;Ludeman, 1989;Sandahl, Lindberg, & Bergman, 1987;Schlesinger, 1983;Silvia & Sorell, 1988;West, 1983) has indicated that improving self-csteem is important for the treatment of alcoholic women, little has been written detailing specific psychotherapeutic interventions for self-esteem enhancement as a treatment method with this population. In fact, the only recent study outlining a treatment methodolow using elevation of self-esteem levels was conducted by ~levelavnb (198Y7), but with a co-dependent female, rather than an alcoholic female population.…”