Evaluating Narrative Writing as a Potential Intervention to Promote Healthy Decisions About Alcohol During the Transition Out of High School
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Active, not recruiting
- Sponsor
- University of Washington
- Enrollment
- 468
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Explicit drinking identity
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of the proposed research is to evaluate (1) whether a future possible self task (FPST) can lead to changes drinking identity (DI; how much one associates one's self with drinking) and (2) whether the FPST and changes in drinking identity also change indicators of alcohol misuse . This study focuses on individuals who are graduating from highly school, which is a time of transition and identity change. If such changes can be demonstrated, DI may be a mechanism for alcohol misuse and the FPST may be an additional, novel intervention strategy to reduce alcohol misuse during the post-high school transition.
The goal of this clinical trial is to test the future possible self task (FPST) in individuals who are about to graduate from high school.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Can the FPST change drinking identity (a risk factor for alcohol misuse)?
- Can the FPST reduce risks for alcohol misuse?
Participants will complete the FPST, a task that involves writing for 20 minutes, and will answer a series of questionnaires and computer-based word categorization tasks. Participants will be followed for a year after completing the FPST.
Researchers will compare different versions of the FPST and different doses (one writing sessions vs. 3 writing sessions) to see which are more effective for changing drinking identity and reducing risks for alcohol misuse.
Detailed Description
This study will evaluate changes in drinking identity and changes in drinking during the transition out of high school in a sample of 528 soon-to-graduate or recently graduated high school seniors via the future possible self task (FPST). We will test whether an adapted version of the FPST can induce change in drinking identity and reduce risk of alcohol misuse. The study will have a 2 (write about future desired self in relation to drinking vs. no), x 2 (write about future feared self in relation to drinking vs. no) x 2 (write 1x only vs.1x per week for 3 weeks) design. Participants will be randomly assigned to a condition. The study will occur entirely online, with virtual baseline and intervention sessions hosted by a research assistant and with online surveys for the 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Participants, who report at least some alcohol consumption and some interest interest in changing or not increasing their drinking, will be recruited, in equal numbers, from two sites -- one at the University of Washington and one at the University of Houston. Participants will be recruited in two waves (264 each wave, with 132 from each site during each wave).
The study will test for changes in drinking identity (primary), in indicators of alcohol misuse (primary & secondary), and in associated risk factors (secondary; changes in self-efficacy, identification with future self, and craving at baseline, 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Factorial
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description
Please note that outcomes are assessed by online survey. No person is in the role of an outcomes assessor.
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 17 Years to 19 Years (Child, Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Senior in high school and expecting to graduate at the end of the academic year or individuals who recently (i.e., within the past three months) graduated high school or earned a GED
- •Between the ages of 17-19
- •Currently reside in WA State (UW Site) or State of Texas (UH Site)
- •Fluent in English
- •Willing to attend three weekly virtual laboratory sessions (hosted on Zoom)
- •Willing to provide contact information, including phone number (for text messages and reminders), email (reminders), and mailing address (payment)
- •Has consumed alcohol at least 1 time in last year
- •Reports at least some interest in NOT increasing one's drinking or at least some interest in reducing drinking
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Arms & Interventions
Most hoped for future self, 3 dose
Participants complete a writing task in which they think and write about their most hoped for future self, weekly for 3 weeks (i.e., at each session).
Intervention: Most hoped for future self (Behavioral)
Most hoped future self, 1 dose
Participants complete a writing task in which they think and write about their most hoped for future self one time (on the third session).
Intervention: Most hoped for future self (Behavioral)
Most feared future self, 3 dose
Participants complete a writing task in which they think and write about their most feared future self, weekly for 3 weeks (i.e., at each session).
Intervention: Most feared future self (Behavioral)
Most feared future self, 1 dose
Participants complete a writing task in which they think and write about their most feared future self one time (on the third session).
Intervention: Most feared future self (Behavioral)
Balanced self (hoped and feared self), 3 dose
Participants complete a writing task in which they think and write about their most hoped for and feared future self, weekly for 3 weeks (i.e., at each session).
Intervention: Balanced future self (Behavioral)
Balanced self (hoped and feared self), 1 dose
Participants complete a writing task in which they think and write about their most hoped for and feared future self one time (on the third session).
Intervention: Balanced future self (Behavioral)
Control, 3 dose
Participants in this condition complete a task in which they think and write about a trip to the zoo weekly for 3 weeks (i.e., at each session).
Intervention: Control (trip to zoo) (Behavioral)
Control, 1 dose
Participants in this condition complete a task in which they think and write about a trip to the zoo one time (on the third session).
Intervention: Control (trip to zoo) (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Explicit drinking identity
Time Frame: Will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up
This is will be evaluated by the Alcohol Self-Concept Scale. A mean score will be calculated. Scores range from -3 to +3. Higher scores indicate stronger alcohol self-concept
Typical drinks per occasion
Time Frame: Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up
This is will be evaluated by the Quantity/Frequency Measure (Q/F). It includes an assessment of the number of drinks consumed on a typical drinking occasion during the last month.
Peak drinks per month
Time Frame: Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up
This is will be evaluated by the Quantity/Frequency Measure (Q/F). It includes an assessment of the number of drinks consumed when one drank the most during the last month.
Drinks per week
Time Frame: Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up
This is will be evaluated by the Daily Drinking Questionnaire (DDQ). It assesses drinks consumed each day of the week during a typical week during the last month. A sum of drinks over the course of the week will be calculated.
Alcohol-related problems
Time Frame: Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up
This is will be evaluated by the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire. It assesses the consequences of drinking (happened yes or no) that occurred during the last month. A sum will be calculated. Higher scores indicate more experiencing more negative consequences from drinking. Scores range from 0 to 24
Implicit drinking identity
Time Frame: Will be assessed at baseline,post-intervention, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up
This is will be evaluated by the Drinking Identity Implicit Association Test (IAT). A summary score, called a D score, which is similar to a Cohen's d effect size, will be calculated. Scores range from -2 to +2; higher scores indicate stronger implicit drinking identity.
Secondary Outcomes
- Alcohol Craving - Retrospective(Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up)
- Drinking Motives(Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up)
- Readiness to Change(Will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up)
- Risk of Alcohol Use Disorder(Will be assessed at baseline and at 12-month follow-up)
- Alcohol Craving - Momentary(Will be assessed at baseline and 2 weeks after baseline)
- Alcohol Expectancies(Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up)
- Drinking Refusal Self-efficacy(Will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up)
- Social Norms(Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up)
- Identification with Future Self(Will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up)
Investigators
Kristen Lindgren
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
University of Washington