MedPath

Promoting Maintenance of Change Following Brief Intervention for Alcohol Use

Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Alcohol Drinking in College
Interventions
Behavioral: Parent handbook
Behavioral: Coping with negative emotions
Behavioral: Recovering from slips
Behavioral: Problem-solving risky situations
Registration Number
NCT05712382
Lead Sponsor
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Brief Summary

All students who enroll in the study will receive an efficacious counselor-delivered brief motivational intervention. The intervention is based in principles of motivational interviewing. Students complete a baseline assessment on their alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences. During the hour-long session, the counselor uses information from the baseline assessment to compare the student's level of alcohol consumption to that of peers at the same university, discuss choices that may lead to experiencing negative consequences, and provide opportunities for the student to set goals for risk reduction.

This study will develop and pilot a maintenance enhancement intervention. The intervention is expected to consist of four components, for example: (1) Student participants may learn to use techniques based in mindfulness to cope with negative emotions. (2) Student participants may identify barriers to reducing their alcohol use and identify protective strategies for navigating those barriers. (3) Student participants may be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students may also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode. (4) Parents may also receive a handbook encouraging communication with their student about alcohol use.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
160
Inclusion Criteria

Student participants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Currently enrolled student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • First time violator of the university alcohol policy
  • Mandated to complete the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students (BASICS) intervention
  • Minimum age 18

Parent participants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• The parent or guardian of students who meet all of the student participant criteria

Exclusion Criteria

• None.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Coping with emotions, Parent handbook, Problem-solving risky situations, and Recovering from slipsCoping with negative emotionsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. The participants' parent(s) will also receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Coping with negative emotions, Parent handbook , and Recovering from slipsCoping with negative emotionsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. The participants' parent(s) will also receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Coping with negative emotions, Parent handbook , and Recovering from slipsRecovering from slipsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. The participants' parent(s) will also receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Coping with negative emotions, Parent handbook , and Recovering from slipsParent handbookParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. The participants' parent(s) will also receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Coping with emotions, Parent handbook, Problem-solving risky situations, and Recovering from slipsParent handbookParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. The participants' parent(s) will also receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Coping with emotions, Parent handbook, Problem-solving risky situations, and Recovering from slipsProblem-solving risky situationsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. The participants' parent(s) will also receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Coping with emotions, Parent handbook, Problem-solving risky situations, and Recovering from slipsRecovering from slipsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. The participants' parent(s) will also receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Coping with negative emotions, Parent handbook , and Problem-solving for risky situationsParent handbookParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. The participants' parent(s) will also receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers.
Coping with negative emotions, Parent handbook , and Problem-solving for risky situationsCoping with negative emotionsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. The participants' parent(s) will also receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers.
Coping with negative emotions, Problem-solving for risky situations , and Recovering from slipsCoping with negative emotionsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Coping with negative emotions, Parent handbook , and Problem-solving for risky situationsProblem-solving risky situationsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. The participants' parent(s) will also receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers.
Coping with negative emotions and Parent handbookCoping with negative emotionsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. The participants' parent(s) will also receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use.
Coping with negative emotions and Parent handbookParent handbookParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. The participants' parent(s) will also receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use.
Coping with negative emotions, Problem-solving for risky situations , and Recovering from slipsProblem-solving risky situationsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Coping with negative emotions and Recovering from slipsCoping with negative emotionsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Parent handbook , Problem-solving for risky situations , and Recovering from slipsRecovering from slipsThe participants' parent(s) will receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Parent handbook and Recovering from slipsParent handbookThe participants' parent(s) will receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Parent handbook , Problem-solving for risky situations , and Recovering from slipsProblem-solving risky situationsThe participants' parent(s) will receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Coping with negative emotions, Problem-solving for risky situations , and Recovering from slipsRecovering from slipsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Coping with negative emotions and Problem-solving for risky situationsCoping with negative emotionsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers.
Coping with negative emotionsCoping with negative emotionsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions.
Coping with negative emotions and Problem-solving for risky situationsProblem-solving risky situationsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers.
Coping with negative emotions and Recovering from slipsRecovering from slipsParticipants will learn to use techniques based in mindfulness as a means for coping with negative emotions. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Parent handbook , Problem-solving for risky situations , and Recovering from slipsParent handbookThe participants' parent(s) will receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Parent handbook and Problem-solving for risky situationsParent handbookThe participants' parent(s) will receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Parent handbook and Problem-solving for risky situationsProblem-solving risky situationsThe participants' parent(s) will receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. Participants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Parent handbook and Recovering from slipsRecovering from slipsThe participants' parent(s) will receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Problem-solving for risky situations and Recovering from slipsProblem-solving risky situationsParticipants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Problem-solving for risky situations and Recovering from slipsRecovering from slipsParticipants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers. To improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Problem-solving for risky situationsProblem-solving risky situationsParticipants will be prompted to identify both barriers to reducing their alcohol use and protective strategies for navigating those barriers.
Parent handbookParent handbookThe participants' parent(s) will receive a handbook that encourages communication with their child about alcohol use.
Recovering from slipsRecovering from slipsTo improve their confidence to resume moderate drinking after having a heavy drinking episode, participants will be presented with narratives from other students who successfully resumed moderate drinking after a heavy drinking episode. Students will also be prompted to identify alcohol free activities that they enjoy and can engage in after experiencing a heavy drinking episode.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Recovery self-efficacyImmediate post-test

Recovery self-efficacy will be assessed with nine items adapted from previous research (Luszczynska, Mazurkiewicz, Ziegelmann, \& Schwarzer, 2007). One item will assess overall recovery self-efficacy and eight will mirror the situations used in the BSCQ . Items include, "I am confident that I could resume moderate drinking, even if I drank heavily because I was enjoying pleasant times with others." Like the BSCQ, items will be rated from 0% (not at all confident) to 100% (completely confident).

Drinking IntentionsImmediate post-test

Drinking intentions will be assessed using a modified version of the daily drinking questionnaire (Young, Rodriguez, \& Neighbors, 2013). Participants will complete a 7-day grid, indicating how many drinks they intend to consume on a typical Sunday, Monday, etc. in the next month. Responses will be summed to capture intentions for typical weekly drinking.

Maintenance self-efficacyImmediate post-test

Maintenance self-efficacy will be assessed with the 8-item Brief Situational Confidence Questionnaire (BSCQ; Breslin, Sobell, Sobell, \& Agrawal, 2000). Student participants will indicate confidence in their ability to resist drinking heavily in eight situations, such as during pleasant times with others, (e.g., celebrating with a friend). Items are rated from 0% (not at all confident) to 100% (completely confident) and averaged to form a scale score. The measure is reliable and detects intervention-induced change among non-dependent young adults (Magill et al., 2017).

Coping motivesImmediate post-test

Thirteen items will be assessed capturing drinking to cope with both anxiety and depression (Cooper, 1994; Grant, Stewart, O'Connor, Blackwell, \& Conrod, 2007). Items assess using alcohol "to reduce my anxiety" or "to forget my worries" and are rated on a 1 (almost never/never) to 5 (almost always/always) scale. Items will be averaged to form separate scale scores for coping with anxiety and coping with depression. The measure has been shown to be reliable among college students.

Parent-student communicationImmediate post-test

Five items will assess parents' intentions for engaging in general communication with their child about school, social activities, personal issues, romantic relationships, and personal problems (Barnes, Hoffman, Welte, Farrell, \& Dintcheff, 2006). Items are rated on a 1 (not at all) to 7 (frequently) scale and averaged to form a scale score. This measure has been shown to be responsive to a parent-based intervention and reliable among college students (Testa, Hoffman, Livingston, \& Turrisi, 2010).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
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