Which Heavy Drinking College Students Benefit from a Brief Motivational Intervention?

Overview

Journal J Consult Clin Psychol

Specialty Psychology

Date 2007 Aug 1

PMID 17663621

Citations 70

Authors

Kate B Carey

James M Henson

Michael P Carey

Stephen A Maisto

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Heavy drinking among college students is common and is often harmful. A previously reported randomized trial revealed that a brief motivational intervention (BMI) reduced the alcohol consumption of heavy drinking college students (K. B. Carey, M. P. Carey, S. A. Maisto, & J. M. Henson, 2006). For this study, the researchers conducted supplemental analyses of hypothesized predictors of change using the same sample (N = 495). Greater readiness to change, higher levels of self-regulation, and less engagement in social comparison all independently predicted reductions in drinking outcomes. Furthermore, self-regulation, social comparison, and future time perspective interacted with BMI and predicted drinks per week. As expected, greater self-regulation skills enhanced response to the BMI; the remaining interaction effects were unexpected. Overall, these findings suggest that BMIs produce relatively robust effects.

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