Outcomes of a technology-based social norms intervention to deter alcohol use in freshman residence halls.
OBJECTIVE
The authors tested a prototype intervention designed to deter alcohol use in residence halls.


METHODS
Approximately 384 freshmen participated in the study over a 2-year period.


METHODS
The authors devised a feedback method that assessed residents' blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at night and allowed the readings to be retrieved the next day via the Web. Residents in an intervention hall received their BAC readings as well as normative feedback. In a comparison hall, residents could retrieve only the BAC readings.


RESULTS
The authors found statistically significant hall differences, but they were small in size and not meaningful.


CONCLUSIONS
Qualitative findings suggest the intervention had an overall positive impact, but the actions of a subgroup of rebellious drinkers might have obscured the effect. Social norms interventions could provoke some episodes of excessive drinking in students who find these messages objectionable. More research is needed to evaluate delayed BAC feedback.
Thombs
Dennis L
DL
Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8210, USA. dthombs@hhp.ufl.edu
Olds
R Scott
RS
Osborn
Cynthia J
CJ
Casseday
Sarah
S
Glavin
Kevin
K
Berkowitz
Alan D
AD
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012925:Social Conformity; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities