A text message intervention to reduce first year university students' alcohol use: A pilot experimental study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Intervention Science

Background:

• University Orientation Week is associated with heavy alcohol use.
• Student drinking patterns established during Orientation Week can persist throughout the academic year.
• There is a need for effective interventions to reduce student alcohol consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To refine a brief Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI).
• To test the effectiveness of the EMI in reducing student alcohol use during Orientation Week and the academic year.

Main Methods:

• Two focus groups were conducted to refine the pilot intervention.
• Students from two residential colleges were assigned to either Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) or EMA-EMI conditions.
• Participants reported drinking habits via text message, with the EMA-EMI group receiving additional messages on social consequences during Orientation Week.

Main Results:

• In College 1, students in the EMA-EMI condition reported significantly fewer drinks during Orientation Week (9.7 vs. 15.5) and the academic year (4.3 vs. 6.8) compared to the EMA condition.
• No significant differences in alcohol consumption were found between conditions in College 2.
• The intervention demonstrated effectiveness in one of the two colleges studied.

Conclusions:

• Ecological Momentary Interventions (EMIs) show potential for reducing student alcohol use.
• EMIs may be successful under specific circumstances.
• This intervention offers a simple and cost-effective approach to addressing student drinking.