title: Social network influences on initiation and maintenance of reduced drinking among college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether (a) social networks influence the extent to which college students initiate and/or maintain reductions in drinking following an alcohol intervention and (b) students with riskier networks respond better to a counselor-delivered, vs. a computer-delivered, intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mandated students (N = 316; 63% male) provided their perceptions of peer network members' drinking statuses (e.g., heavy drinker) and how accepting each friend would be if the participant reduced his or her drinking. Next, they were randomized to receive a brief motivational intervention (BMI) or Alcohol Edu for Sanctions (EDU). In latent growth models controlling for baseline levels on outcomes, influences of social networks on 2 phases of intervention response were examined: initiation of reductions in drinks per heaviest week, peak blood alcohol content (BAC), and consequences at 1 month (model intercepts) and maintenance of reductions between 1 and 12 months (model slopes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peer drinking status predicted initiation of reductions in drinks per heaviest week and peak BAC; peer acceptability predicted initial reductions in consequences. Peer Acceptability × Condition interactions were significant or marginal for all outcomes in the maintenance phase. In networks with higher perceived acceptability of decreasing use, BMI and EDU exhibited similar growth rates. In less accepting networks, growth rates were significantly steeper among EDU than BMI participants. For consumption outcomes, lower perceived peer acceptability predicted steeper rates of growth in drinking among EDU but not BMI participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding how social networks influence behavior change and how interventions mitigate their influence is important for optimizing efficacy of alcohol interventions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Allecia E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Kate B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Program in Public Health, Brown University.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000067292:Alcohol Drinking in College / Q000523:psychology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D010379:Peer Group; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
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