Evaluation of a Single-Session Expectancy Challenge Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Use Among College Students

In this study, the authors developed and evaluated a single-session experiential expectancy challenge (EC) intervention, seeking to reduce alcohol use by changing key positive expectancies among moderate to heavy drinking male and female college students. Participants ( N = 217) were randomly assign...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology of addictive behaviors 2008-06, Vol.22 (2), p.168-175
Main Authors: Lau-Barraco, Cathy, Dunn, Michael E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Addictive behaviors
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol Drinking - psychology
Alcohol education
Alcohol Treatment
Alcohol Use
Alcoholism
Alcoholism - psychology
Alcoholism - rehabilitation
Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning
Biological and medical sciences
College Students
Culture
Desintoxication. Drug withdrawal
Expectancy challenge
Expectations
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Health Education
Human
Humans
Intervention
Male
Medical sciences
Motivation
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Psychotherapy, Brief - methods
Set (Psychology)
Social Behavior
Toxicology
Treatments
Undergraduate students
Universities
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Summary:In this study, the authors developed and evaluated a single-session experiential expectancy challenge (EC) intervention, seeking to reduce alcohol use by changing key positive expectancies among moderate to heavy drinking male and female college students. Participants ( N = 217) were randomly assigned to attend a 90- to 120-min EC session, CD-ROM alcohol education, or assessment only. Participants were assessed at pretest, posttest, and 1-month follow-up. Exposure to the EC intervention led to significant decreases in alcohol expectancies and subsequent alcohol consumption in both genders at follow-up. No significant changes were evident in either control condition. This study is the first to effectively decrease expectancies and drinking in college students with a single-session EC intervention. Further, although several studies have demonstrated the utility of the intervention with men, it is the first to do so with women. This study represents a critical step in the process of translating an innovative, theory-based intervention into a more practical format that makes it more accessible to those who seek effective drinking-reduction strategies for college campuses.
ISSN:0893-164X
1939-1501
DOI:10.1037/0893-164X.22.2.168