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

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.

Dimensionality and Psychometric Analysis of an Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale

“…The sampling and recruitment methods utilized in the larger study have been described in detail elsewhere (Boekeloo, Bush, & Novik, 2009; Boekeloo & Griffin, 2009; Boekeloo, Novik, Bush, & O’Grady, 2009; Howard, Griffin, & Boekeloo, 2008). Because the larger trial was focused on first-year freshmen, those students residing in predominantly freshman residence halls were recruited.…”

Comparison of Student Self-Reported and Administrative Data Regarding Intercession Into Alcohol Misuse Among College Freshmen Dormitory Residents

“…This study was part of a larger alcohol problem prevention trial implemented at a large, Mid-Atlantic, suburban, public university with a diverse student body (Boekeloo, Novik, et al, 2009). While most incoming freshmen students live on campus in residence halls, the majority of undergraduate students at the university live in various types of off-campus housing in the surrounding community that includes both residential and commercial areas.…”

“…The study was approved by the university’s Institutional Review Board. The methods by which the sample was selected and the data were gathered have been explained in detail elsewhere (Boekeloo, Bush, et al, 2009; Boekeloo & Griffin, 2009; Boekeloo, Novik, et al, 2009). …”

“…We conducted a trial of a dormitory-based intervention with predominantly first-year freshmen to reduce alcohol misuse (Boekeloo, Novik, Bush, & O’Grady, 2009). When examining the data, we were concerned about student self-report biases regarding resident hall intercession into alcohol misuse.…”

Drinking to Get Drunk Among Incoming Freshmen College Students

“…The major goal of the parent study was to examine differences in weekly alcohol use and secondhand effects across conditions in a three-armed (single-gender, mixed-gender, control condition) Information Motivation Behavior theory-based intervention trial implemented in freshmen residence hall wings during the initial weeks of college. 21 This study was approved by the university Institutional Review Board. IRB approved protocols involved protection of subjects regarding self-reported and university administrative data.…”