CONTACT US: Contact info
|
Citation |
Merrill JE, Boyle HK, Barnett NP, Carey KB. Addict. Behav. 2018; 83: 175-181. |
|
Affiliation |
Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, United States; Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, United States. |
|
Copyright |
(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing) |
|
DOI |
|
PMID |
29033116 |
|
Abstract |
Correcting misperceptions in drinking norms is an established method of reducing college student drinking; however, delivery of accurate norms has typically been limited to a single dose within the confines of an alcohol intervention. The present study tests the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of using text messages to promote pro-moderation descriptive and injunctive norms. Following a baseline survey, 68 heavy drinking college students were randomly assigned to receive 28 daily messages with either accurate norms information (experimental group, n=34) or fun facts (control group, n=34). Participants rated each message on a 5-point scale of interest, and at the end of the 28days completed a follow-up assessment of normative perceptions and drinking behavior. The study protocol was feasible: 87% of invited students completed the screener, 64% of eligible students completed the consent form, and 93% agreed to participate. All messages were delivered and 98% were rated. Regarding acceptability, the mean interest rating for the alcohol-related text messages was 2.84 (SD=1.30), and no participants withdrew from the study. Although between-group differences were not observed at follow-up, participants in the experimental group showed significant reductions between baseline and follow-up on peak drinks, frequency of heavy episodic drinking (HED), negative consequences, and injunctive norms (ps<0.01). Language: en |
|
Keywords |
Alcohol; College students; Intervention; Text message |