title: Middle and high school students' exposure to alcohol- and smoking-related media: a pilot study using ecological momentary assessment.
abstract: The goals of this study were to assess the feasibility of using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to measure adolescents' exposure to alcohol and smoking-related media. A sample of 20 middle and high school students completed a 2-week EMA protocol in which they monitored exposures to alcohol and smoking-related media. Results showed that adolescents were highly compliant with the study protocol. A total of 255 exposures to alcohol (67%) and smoking (33%) were captured, representing an average of 8.50 (SD = 5.82) alcohol-related media exposures and 4.25 (SD = 3.67) smoking-related media exposures per participant, during the study period. Exposures tended to occur in the afternoon (52% alcohol; 54% smoking), at point of sale (44% alcohol; 65% smoking), and on days leading up to the weekend (57% alcohol; 57% smoking). Exposures were also likely in the presence of family (69% alcohol; 56% smoking). Overall, results of this small pilot provide preliminary evidence that EMA is a useful tool for tracking and characterizing middle and high school students' real-world exposures to alcohol- and smoking-related media. Future studies may suggest mechanisms by which media exposures lead to youth uptake of drinking and smoking behaviors.
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation.
authors.forename: Deborah M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Scharf
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation.
authors.forename: Claude M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Setodji
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation.
authors.forename: B Lynette
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Staplefoote
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Shadel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*