NCJ Number
207399
Journal
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 48 Issue: 2 Dated: September 2004 Pages: 53-72
Date Published
September 2004
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of a brief small group intervention designed to change perceptions of drinking norms among college students.
Abstract
There has been a proliferation of drinking intervention programs based on social norming theory (SNT), despite the fact that little empirical research has been conducted concerning its effectiveness in reducing drinking among college students. The current study used a post-test only design to compare the effectiveness of two alcohol programming approaches on a college campus: (a) the standard alcohol programming (SAP), versus (b) SAP plus an intervention based on SNT designed to change perceptions of alcohol norms (PAN). Sections of a university course were randomly assigned to receive either SAP or SAP plus PAN intervention; both interventions took place over the course of one class period. Pre-intervention data were gathered at the beginning of the semester from 1,411 students in the course and follow-up data following the interventions were collected from 1,152 students. Baseline and follow-up data were also collected from 80 other university sections. Results of subgroup analyses and path modeling revealed that the SAP plus PAN intervention group experienced significant changes in perceptions of peer drinking but no effect on self-reported drinking behavior. The path analysis indicated that strengthening the PAN would not produce the desired effects. The findings replicate and extend the authors’ previous findings of PAN intervention effects. Future research might compare a modified version of PAN with other established alcohol intervention models. Figures, references