Protective Behavioral Strategies and Brief Alcohol Interventions

The primary objective of this project is to examine factors that are associated with the
effectiveness of intervention programs designed to reduce high-risk drinking among heavy
drinking college students. Previous research has found similar effect sizes for different
types of multi-component, brief interventions among college students, but little research
has assessed the degree to which specific components of such interventions are associated
with intervention outcomes. One common component of motivational enhancing interventions
among college students involves providing cognitive-behavioral self-control strategies
designed to reduce one's use of alcohol, which we term "protective behavioral strategies"
(PBS). However, there are two important factors that limit our understanding of the effects
of PBS on client outcomes. First, the use of these strategies in motivational enhancing
programs has generally not been assessed in a systematic manner, due in part to the fact
that until recently a standardized measure of such strategies did not exist. Second,
researchers have yet to conduct studies that dismantle the specific effects associated with
the PBS component on client outcomes. That is, studies have not tested interventions with
and without assessment and feedback regarding a client's use of PBS. Participants in this
project will be "at-risk" college student drinkers who will be assigned to one of three
conditions: a brief intervention that includes a focus on PBS, a brief intervention that
does not include this focus, and an education-only control condition. Participant will
complete self-report measures of alcohol-related variables at baseline, 30-day, and 6-month
follow-ups. Mixed-model analyses will be used to determine the effectiveness of the
intervention programs, and structural equation modeling will be used to determine if
increases in PBS result in reductions in alcohol use/alcohol-related problems.