Brief motivational interviewing: An intervention for alcohol abusing college students

• Main Author: Horner, Kelly J
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2010
• Subjects: Clinical psychology; Higher education
• ISBN: 110974448X; 9781109744484

Efforts to curtail alcohol abuse in college with traditional alcohol education programs have been unsuccessful as heavy drinking on college campuses has remained remarkably constant. Brief Motivational Interventions (BMIs) have recently emerged as a viable alternative that facilitates behavior change in students who engage in heavy drinking. The present study recruited college students who violated campus drinking policies and were referred to the University’s judicial system. The efficacy of an individualized BMI intervention was compared to that of a group oriented educational intervention and a control condition consisting of a sanction. Possible interaction effects between specific individual characteristics and the assigned intervention approaches were explored. Under these circumstances the two treatment interventions and the control conditions did not demonstrate differential effects across treatment. However, all conditions showed modest significant effects for reductions in drinking behaviors that were maintained through to 3-month follow-up. The readiness to change did not reflect similar significant results. Future studies should continue to investigate the efficacy of BMIs with mandated students, and the utility and necessity of interventions beyond sanctions.