Are effects from a brief multiple behavior intervention for college students sustained over time?

Area of Science:

• Health Behavior Interventions
• Public Health
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• College students often exhibit unhealthy behaviors.
• Brief interventions may offer a scalable solution for improving student health.
• Sustained effects of health interventions are crucial for long-term well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the 12-month sustainability of a brief, image-based, multiple behavior intervention.
• To evaluate the intervention's impact on college students' health habits and quality of life.
• To determine if initial 3-month improvements persisted without additional intervention.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial with 303 undergraduates.
• Intervention group received a brief image-based program; control group received usual care.
• Data collected at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in health-related quality of life, including spiritual health, social health, and activity limitations.
• Sustained positive effects on driving after drinking and moderate exercise participation.
• Effect sizes generally increased over time, with moderate effects noted for social health-related quality of life.

Conclusions:

• A brief image-based intervention partially sustained positive health outcomes at 12 months.
• The intervention demonstrated lasting benefits for specific health behaviors and quality of life domains.
• Findings support the long-term potential of brief, targeted health promotion strategies for college students.