title: Drinking norms, readiness to change, and gender as moderators of a combined alcohol intervention for first-year college students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcohol interventions targeting college students and their parents have been shown to be efficacious. Little research has examined moderators of intervention efficacy to help tailor interventions for subgroups of students.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a secondary data analysis of readiness to change, drinking norms, and gender as moderators of an efficacious peer- and parent-based intervention (Turrisi et al., 2009). Students (n=680) were randomized to the combined peer and parent intervention (n=342) or assessment-only control (n=338).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combined intervention reduced peak blood alcohol content (BAC) compared to control. Gender and norms did not moderate the relationship between the intervention and drinking. Significant interactions were found between gender, precontemplation, and intervention. Students in the combined condition with higher precontemplation had lower weekly drinking compared to those with lower precontemplation. This pattern was also found among men for peak BAC and alcohol-related consequences but not among women, indicating a three-way interaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions may need to consider readiness to change and gender to optimize effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs/University of Washington, Department of Health Services, 1100 Olive Way, Suite 1400, Seattle, WA 98108, United States. Electronic address: Joel.Grossbard@va.gov.
authors.forename: Joel R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Grossbard
authors.affiliation: Brown University, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Box G-S121-5, Providence RI 02912, United States.
authors.forename: Nadine R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Mastroleo
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 1100 NE 45th Street, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, United States.
authors.forename: Irene Markman
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Geisner
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 1100 NE 45th Street, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, United States.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.affiliation: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Center of Alcohol Studies, 607 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States.
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 1100 NE 45th Street, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, United States.
authors.forename: Jason R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kilmer
authors.affiliation: The Pennsylvania State University, Biobehavioral Health and Prevention Center, 210 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mallett
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 1100 NE 45th Street, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, United States.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Larimer
authors.affiliation: The Pennsylvania State University, Biobehavioral Health and Prevention Center, 210 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turrisi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014495:Universities
keywords: Alcohol intervention; College students; Moderators; Norms; Readiness to change