title: A multisite randomized trial of normative feedback for heavy drinking: Social comparison versus social comparison plus correction of normative misperceptions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Given widespread alcohol misuse among college students, numerous intervention programs have been developed, including personalized normative feedback (PNF). Most research evaluating PNF assumes that presenting one's own perceived norms is necessary to correct normative misperceptions and thereby reduce drinking. Alternatively, simply providing social comparison information showing that one drinks more than others may be sufficient. The present study evaluated the efficacy of full PNF (one's own drinking, campus drinking rates, and perceived norms) and a partial personalized social comparison feedback (PSCF; one's own drinking and campus drinking rates) in a randomized trial among heavy-drinking college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 623 heavy-drinking students from 3 universities. Assessments occurred at baseline and 3- and 6-months postbaseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary analyses examined differences across 4 drinking outcomes (drinks per week, total drinks past month, frequency of past month drinking, and negative alcohol-related consequences) at 3- and 6-month follow-ups controlling for the baseline variable. Results revealed significant reductions across all alcohol consumption outcomes at 3 months in both intervention conditions compared to attention-control. Mediation analyses demonstrated significant indirect effects of the intervention on 6-month drinking through changes in perceived norms at 3 months. Moreover, evidence emerged for changes in drinking at 3 months as a mediator of the association between PSCF and 6-month perceived norms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present research suggests PNF may not require explicit consideration of one's perceived norms to be effective and that direct social comparison provides an alternative theoretical mechanism for PNF efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Clayton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neighbors
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: LaBrie
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Angelo M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: DiBello
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Chelsie M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Dipali V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Rinker
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Litt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Lindsey M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: C Raymond
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Knee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Ezekiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hamor
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jerabeck
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Larimer
mesh_terms: D000067292:Alcohol Drinking in College / Q000523:psychology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D066262:Social Norms; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult