A Comparison of Personalized Feedback for College Student Drinkers Delivered with and without a Motivational Interview

Authors

James G. Murphy, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies
Trisha A. Benson, Center for Alcohol and Addiction StudiesFollow
Rudy E. Vuchinich, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies
Mary M. Deskins, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies
David Eakin, Center for Alcohol and Addiction StudiesFollow
Amanda M. Flood, Center for Alcohol and Addiction StudiesFollow
Meghan E. McDevitt-Murphy, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies
Ohiana Torrealday, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the relative efficacy of personalized drinking feedback (PDF) delivered with and without a motivational interview (MI) for college student drinkers. Method: Heavy-drinking college students (N = 54; 69% female) were identified from a large screening sample and randomly assigned either to receive PDF during a single MI session or to receive PDF without an MI. Of these participants, 51 (94%) completed a 6-month follow-up assessment that included measures of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. Results: At 6-months postintervention, participants in both groups showed significant, small to moderate reductions in alcohol consumption, but the groups did not differ. Women showed larger reductions than men. Rates of alcohol-related problems remained relatively unchanged. Conclusions: The hypothesis that an MI would enhance the efficacy of PDF was not supported.

Publication Title

Journal of Studies on Alcohol

Recommended Citation

Murphy, J., Benson, T., Vuchinich, R., Deskins, M., Eakin, D., Flood, A., McDevitt-Murphy, M., & Torrealday, O. (2004). A Comparison of Personalized Feedback for College Student Drinkers Delivered with and without a Motivational Interview. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 65 (2), 200-203. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsa.2004.65.200