Evaluative conditioning: A brief computer-delivered intervention to reduce college student drinking.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Recent studies indicate computer-delivered evaluative conditioning (EC) can modify implicit alcohol attitudes and reduce drinking in college students.
• Hazardous drinking patterns may influence the efficacy of EC interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To replicate findings on EC's impact on alcohol evaluation and drinking behavior in a high-powered study.
• To investigate whether hazardous drinking moderates the effects of EC interventions.

Main Methods:

• 122 French college students were screened for hazardous drinking (AUDIT).
• Implicit alcohol evaluation was measured using the Implicit Association Test (IAT).
• Drinking behavior was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the TimeLine Follow Back (TLFB) method. EC involved pairing alcohol words with negative images.

Main Results:

• Evaluative conditioning did not significantly alter implicit alcohol evaluation (Cohen's d = 0.01).
• EC significantly reduced drinking behavior (Cohen's d = 0.37), a 31% reduction compared to 4% in controls.
• The reduction in drinking was independent of hazardous drinking levels but more pronounced in those with initially positive implicit alcohol evaluations.

Conclusions:

• Computer-delivered EC is effective in reducing college student drinking behavior.
• EC's efficacy in reducing drinking may occur independently of immediate changes in implicit alcohol evaluation.
• The intervention shows promise for reducing alcohol consumption in young adults.