Randomized controlled trial of a very brief, multicomponent web-based alcohol intervention for undergraduates with a focus on protective behavioral strategies.
OBJECTIVE
Tertiary Health Research Intervention via Email (THRIVE), a very brief, freely available, multicomponent Web-based alcohol intervention originally developed and tested among students in Australia and New Zealand, was tested in the United States. We also evaluated effects of systematically varying the protective behavioral strategies (PBS) component of the intervention to include shorter, focused lists of direct (e.g., alternating alcoholic with nonalcoholic drinks) or indirect (e.g., looking out for friends) strategies.


METHODS
Undergraduates with past-month heavy drinking (N = 208) were randomized to education/assessment control or one of three U.S.-THRIVE variants, including direct PBS only, indirect PBS only, or full (direct and indirect PBS).


RESULTS
After 1 month, compared to the control condition, full condition participants reported fewer drinks per week (rate ratio [RR] = .62) and lower peak drinking (RR = .74). The indirect-only condition reported reduced peak drinking (RR = .74) and a trend toward fewer drinks per week (RR = .78). Changes in drinking relative to control were significant through 6 months for the full and indirect-only conditions. There were no significant differences between the direct-only and control conditions. U.S.-THRIVE was not associated with decreased heavy drinking or alcohol-related problems relative to control.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this was the first study to systematically vary the types of PBS provided in an intervention. Initial results suggest U.S.-THRIVE is efficacious. Compared to control, presenting indirect PBS only as part of U.S.-THRIVE was associated with lower drinks per week and peak past 30-day drinking. Targeting indirect PBS may be more appropriate for non-treatment-seeking young adults receiving a brief intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record
Department of Health Education and Behavior.
Robert F
RF
Leeman
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine.
Kelly S
KS
DeMartini
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine.
Ralitza
R
Gueorguieva
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine.
Christine
C
Nogueira
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University.
William R
WR
Corbin
of Psychology, University of Houston.
Clayton
C
Neighbors
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine.
Stephanie S
SS
O'Malley
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067292:Alcohol Drinking in College / Q000523:psychology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult