title: The Inability of Self-affirmations to Decrease Defensive Bias Toward an Alcohol-Related Risk Message Among High-Risk College Students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the efficacy of a self-affirmation task in deterring college alcohol misuse and the importance of preexisting beliefs in predicting subsequent behavior change.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heavy-drinking undergraduates (N = 110) participated during the 2011-2012 academic year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomized to complete an affirmation or control task before reading an alcohol risk message. Alcohol-related beliefs and behaviors were assessed. Participants completed a 2-week online follow-up assessing alcohol-related behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups reported increased perceived problem importance, but neither group displayed changes in personal risk. Follow-up assessment revealed similar, significant declines in peak consumption in both groups, with no significant between-group differences. Preexisting beliefs accounted for 5% to 10% of variance in drinking outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An affirmation task does not seem to decrease defensive processing or alter high-risk drinking behaviors among college students and should not be utilized in lieu of more effective strategies.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: William V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Lechner
authors.forename: Nate
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Kasey R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Claborn
authors.forename: Thad R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Leffingwell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: alcohol; college students; defensive bias; risk messages; self-affirmation