Fitting in and standing out: Increasing the use of alcohol protective behavioral strategies with a deviance regulation intervention

Date

2015-06

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Heavy alcohol use remains a consistent public health concern on college campuses. The current pilot study used Deviance Regulation Theory (DRT) to modify Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS) among college student drinkers to reduce alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences. METHODS: The sample was comprised of current college student drinkers (n = 76; 53.95% female) ranging in age from 18-24 (M = 19.29, SD = 1.42). Participants were randomly assigned to receive a positive or negative framed message. They then reported on use of alcohol protective behavioral strategies (via the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale), alcohol consumption (via the Modified Daily Drinking Questionnaire), and alcohol-related consequences (via the Young Adults Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire) each week for six weeks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Among drinkers with low PBS use norms, a positively, versus a negatively, framed message resulted in increased PBS use and consequently less alcohol consumption and fewer alcohol-related consequences. Among drinkers with high PBS use norms, a negatively, versus positively, framed message resulted in increased PBS use and consequently lower alcohol consumption and fewer alcohol-related consequences. However, these effects were only relevant among those who strongly believed the DRT frame. Findings suggest assigning drinkers to frames based on perceived PBS use norms and increasing belief in the frame may be one approach to increasing responsible drinking patterns among college students. Furthermore, the current data suggests important boundary conditions for norm-based interventions. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This study of college student drinkers who received either a positive or negative framed message about reducing their drinking found that a Deviance Regulation intervention might be effective at increasing responsible alcohol use, but only among students with a high acceptance of the intervention materials.

Description

Keywords

Protective behavioral strategies, Deviance regulation theory, College students

Citation

Copyright 2015 Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. This is a post-print version of a published paper that is available at: http://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-12031-001. Recommended citation: Dvorak, Robert D., Matthew R. Pearson, Clayton Neighbors, and Matthew P. Martens. "Fitting in and Standing Out: Increasing The Use of Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies with a Deviance Regulation Intervention." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 83, no. 3 (2015): 482-493. doi: 10.1037/a0038902. This item has been deposited in accordance with publisher copyright and licensing terms and with the author’s permission.