Randomized controlled trial of a web-delivered personalized normative feedback intervention to reduce alcohol-related risky sexual behavior among college students.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of personalized normative feedback (PNF) on college student alcohol-related risky sexual behavior (RSB).


METHODS
In a randomized controlled trial, 480 (57.6% female) sexually active college students were stratified by gender and level of drinking and randomly assigned to an alcohol-only intervention, an alcohol-related RSB-only intervention, a combined alcohol and alcohol-related RSB intervention, or control. All assessment and intervention procedures were Web-based.


RESULTS
Results indicated a significant reduction in drinking outcomes for the alcohol only and the combined alcohol and alcohol-related RSB interventions relative to control. Findings further demonstrated a significant reduction in alcohol-related RSB outcomes for the alcohol-related RSB only and the combined alcohol and alcohol-related RSB interventions relative to control. There were no significant intervention effects on alcohol-related negative consequences. These findings demonstrate that the combined alcohol and alcohol-related RSB intervention was the only intervention successful at reducing both drinking and alcohol-related RSB outcomes relative to control. There were no significant differences when comparing the combined alcohol and alcohol-related RSB intervention to the alcohol-only intervention or the alcohol-related RSB-only intervention. Finally, results suggested that the intervention effects on high-risk behaviors were mediated by reductions in descriptive normative perceptions.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate that PNF specific to drinking in sexual situations was needed to reduce alcohol-related RSB. Furthermore, this study highlights the potential utility of a brief intervention that can be delivered via the Internet to reduce high-risk drinking and alcohol-related RSB among college students.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington.
Melissa A
MA
Lewis
Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.
Megan E
ME
Patrick
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington.
Dana M
DM
Litt
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington.
David C
DC
Atkins
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington.
Theresa
T
Kim
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington.
Jessica A
JA
Blayney
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington.
Jeanette
J
Norris
Department of Psychology, University of Washington.
William H
WH
George
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington.
Mary E
ME
Larimer
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014495:Universities; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult