Preventing risky drinking in first-year college women: further validation of a female-specific motivational-enhancement group intervention.
OBJECTIVE
Female college students have increased their alcohol consumption rates. The current study sought to replicate the effectiveness of a female-specific motivational-enhancement group intervention and extended previous work by adding a 6-month follow-up. The intervention included several motivational-enhancement components delivered in a group setting and included a group discussion of female-specific reasons for drinking.


METHODS
Participants were 285 first-year college women. Data collection consisted of an online pre-intervention questionnaire, 10 weeks of online follow-up assessment, and a 6-month online follow-up. Using a randomized design, participants chose a group session, blind to treatment status. Held during the first weeks of the first semester, 159 participants received the intervention and 126 participants received an assessment-only control.


RESULTS
Using a repeated-measures analysis of covariance, intervention participants consumed significantly less than control participants on drinks per week (F = 11.86, 1/252 df, p < .001), maximum drinks (F = 11.90, 1/252 df, p < .001), and heavy episodic drinking events (F = 20.14, 1/252 df, p < .001) across 10 weeks of follow-up. However, these effects did not persist at the 6-month follow-up. Moderation effects were found for social motives on all drinking variables, such that the intervention was most effective for those women with higher social motives for drinking.


CONCLUSIONS
Efficacy was found for a female-specific motivational group intervention in creating less risky drinking patterns among first-year women, especially women with social motives for drinking. The effect dissipated by the second semester, suggesting the need for maintenance or booster sessions.
LaBrie
Joseph W
JW
Department of Psychology, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA. jlabrie@lmu.edu
Huchting
Karen K
KK
Lac
Andrew
A
Tawalbeh
Summer
S
Thompson
Alysha D
AD
Larimer
Mary E
ME
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*