Impact of the Peers as Family Dormitory Wing-Based Intervention on College Student Alcohol Use and Its Secondhand Effects

• NCJ Number: 231074
• Journal: Journal of Drug Education Volume: 39 Issue: 4 Dated: 2009 Pages: 339-359
• Author(s): Bradley O. Boekeloo, Ph.D.; Melinda G. Novik, Ph.D.; Elizabeth N. Bush, M.H.S.; Kevin E. O'Grady, Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2009
• Length: 21 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01AA015139
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the lack of alcohol risk reduction research for college freshmen in dormitory living-units and investigated whether group-based alcohol intervention should be single- or mixed-gender.

Abstract

An intervention to reduce college alcohol use and secondhand effects was tested. Freshmen dormitory wings at a large Mid-Atlantic public university were assigned to single-gender (SG) or mixed-gender (MG) Information-Motivation-Behavior (IMB) workshops implemented during the first weeks of school, or a control condition. Students were surveyed before school began and at 2- and 6-month follow-up. Analyses indicated that, among males, the adjusted mean weekly alcohol use was lower in the SG than the control condition (1.89 vs. 2.72, p = .041). Among females, the adjusted mean weekly alcohol use was lower in the MG than the SG (1.60 vs. 2.44, p = .021) and control condition (1.60 vs. 2.27, p = .056). Further research should identify underlying mechanisms for effective alcohol behavior change among male and female wing-mates. Tables, figures, and references (Published Abstract)