Reducing College Student Drinking by Integrating Self-Affirmation and Implementation Intentions

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Two hundred and ninety-three college students who reported drinking in the past month were randomly assigned to condition in a 2 (self-affirmation: values vs. control writing task) x 2 (implementation intentions: formed vs. not formed) between-subjects factorial design. Participants first completed a self-affirmation or control writing task, then read an article describing the risks of drinking. Next, all participants reported their common drinking behaviors and contexts, and then selected two harm-reduction strategies making either general intentions to use the strategies or making implementation intentions to use the strategies. Alcohol consumption was measured 1 and 2 weeks after the experimental session.

Conditions
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Alcohol Drinking

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: SA and II
* Behavioral: SA and No II
* Behavioral: No SA and II
* Behavioral: No SA and No II


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Must have reported drinking at least 1 drink in the last 30 days at time of first participation. Exclusion Criteria: -
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: SA and II<br>Combined self-affirmation and implementations intention arm | Behavioral: SA and II<br>* Self affirmation intervention where participants rank 11 values, then write about why their top ranked value is important AND Implementation intentions intervention where participants form two implementation intentions (If/then) statements regarding drinking behavior and write why these are important<br>|
| Experimental: SA and No II<br>Self-affirmation and control intentions condition | Behavioral: SA and No II<br>* Self affirmation intervention where participants rank 11 values, then write about why their top ranked value is important AND No implementation intentions intervention where participants write why selected health strategies are important (and do nothing else)<br>|
| Experimental: No SA and II<br>Implementation intentions intervention and control writing task | Behavioral: No SA and II<br>* Control writing intervention where participants rank 11 values, then write about why their 10th ranked value is important to someone else AND Implementation intentions intervention where participants form two implementation intentions (If/then) statements regarding drinking behavior and write why these are important<br>|
| Experimental: No SA and No II<br>Control writing task and control intentions condition | Behavioral: No SA and No II<br>* Control writing intervention where participants rank 11 values, then write about why their 10th ranked value is important to someone else AND No implementation intentions intervention where participants write why selected health strategies are important (and do nothing else)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alcohol consumption | Number of standard drinks consumed in the past week | Past week drinking |