Social Media Interventions to Reduce Alcohol Use Among Youth
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Michigan
- Enrollment
- 955
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Alcohol Related Consequences
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Social media provides frequent interaction with online social networks, increasing exposure to peer influences, which could affect alcohol use in negative or positive ways. The proposed study will recruit adolescents and emerging adults using social media ads, and conduct online screening, enrolling 975 risky drinkers in a randomized controlled trial comparing three conditions: 8-week Social Media Intervention + Incentives, 8-week Social Media Intervention Only, and an e-news attention control condition. These innovative design features will provide the critical next step in harnessing social media to reduce alcohol misuse, which could have enormous public health impact by altering the alcohol use trajectories of youth.
Detailed Description
The proposed study will recruit adolescents and emerging adults (ages 16-24) using social media ads and conduct online screening, enrolling 975 risky drinkers (i.e., using AUDIT-C screener) in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing three conditions: 1) Social Media Intervention + Incentives (n=325), 2) Social Media Intervention Only (n=325), and 3) Attention Control E-News condition (n=325), with post baseline follow-up assessments at 3, 6, and 12 months. Interventions will include access for 8 weeks to unique, secret group pages facilitated by e-coaches (supervised by therapists), with dynamic content emphasizing reducing alcohol use/misuse as well as concomitant risk behaviors (other drug use based on co-ingestion and common motives for use).
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Health Services Research
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 16 Years to 24 Years (Child, Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Individuals will be eligible to participate if they are between the ages of 16 and 24 years and they have a Facebook account. Additionally, individuals will be eligible if they:
- •Have a Past 3-month AUDIT-C score (see below) indicating that they meet criteria for at-risk drinking/alcohol misuse.
- •ages 16-17: ≥3 females and ≥4 males
- •ages 18-24: ≥4 females and ≥5 males
Exclusion Criteria
- •do not live in an area that the study is currently seeking participants from (i.e.- zip code not in area of active recruitment).
- •under 16 years of age or over 24 years of age
- •not Facebook account holder
- •inability to give informed, voluntary consent
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Alcohol Related Consequences
Time Frame: 3-, 6-, and 12- months post baseline
Alcohol related consequences will be measured using the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (YAACQ).
Change in Alcohol Consumption
Time Frame: 3-, 6-, and 12- months post baseline
30-day Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB) will be used to assess alcohol consumption, binge drinking, quantity, and frequency of use.
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
Maureen A Walton
Professor
University of Michigan