Motivational interviewing skills as predictors of change in emerging adult risk behavior.

Abstract

Emerging adulthood is a unique developmental stage during which significant transitions in living environment, social networks, personal responsibilities, and identity development occur. Stress associated with these transitions relates to increases in health-risk behaviors, such as substance use and high-risk sexual behavior. This research examined health-risk behavior outcomes associated with the Young Adult Family Check-Up (YA-FCU). The YA-FCU comprises three sessions: an initial interview, an ecological assessment, and a feedback session that integrates motivational interviewing (MI) techniques. This study measured treatment fidelity of the YA-FCU and the extent to which therapists adhered to principles of MI during feedback sessions. Therapists included both licensed psychologists and trainees. The study also examined the relationship between therapists' MI fidelity and client change talk (CT), in order to determine if MI fidelity and client CT predicted postintervention health-risk behaviors among emerging adults who participated in the YA-FCU. Measures of health-risk behaviors were collected pre-and postintervention. Results indicated overall adequate treatment fidelity. MI fidelity was positively related to client CT. Several indicators of MI fidelity predicted decreases in emerging adults' health-risk behaviors. For example, therapist ratio of reflections to questions predicted a decline in emerging adults' alcohol use frequency and marijuana use quantity. These results have important implications for YA-FCU training and implementation and indicate that MI consistent skills might be a mechanism of change in the YA-FCU intervention. Public Significance StatementThis study suggests that the use of motivational interviewing in the Family Check-Up intervention might impact outcomes, particularly with regard to marijuana use. Therapists' use of MI related to changes in marijuana use one year after engagement in the FCU.

Motives, Frequency, and Consequences of Cannabis Use Among College Students

“…Providers/clinicians may benefit from an exploration with their clients who use cannabis on the reasons for their use and how these play out in the social contexts in which they arise. Motivational interviewing and motivational enhancement strategies continue to gain empirical support in the treatment of problematic cannabis use (Diclemente et al, 2017) and may serve as a useful entry point when working with college students whose cannabis use has not yet escalated to problematic levels (D’Amico et al, 2018; DeVargas & Stormshak, 2020). Although in this study, the differences found across state/schools may be explained by differences in race/ethnicity or SES, policies that are informed by empirical studies on the links between legalization, use and consequences are imperative for further understanding the public health impact of the changing cannabis legal landscape (Smart & Pacula, 2019).…”

Adapted motivational interviewing for brief healthcare consultations: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of treatment fidelity in real‐world evaluations of behaviour change counselling

“…Evidence regarding the relationship between treatment fidelity and patient outcome is limited and complex. For example, adherence to BCC and MI have been variously linked to improved patient outcomes (DeVargas & Stormshak, 2020; Fischer, 2016; Spohr et al, 2016), worse patient outcomes (Beck et al, 2021; DeVargas & Stormshak, 2020; Osilla et al, 2018; Schmidt et al, 2019) and no effect (Osilla et al, 2018; Rowell, 2019; Spohr et al, 2016; Webb et al, 2010). Moreover, the relationship between fidelity and patient outcome has been found to vary according to intervention component (Copeland et al, 2015; Magill et al, 2018; Pace et al, 2017), provider skill (Borsari et al, 2019), and client severity (Imel et al, 2011).…”

Social determinants and adherence to recommended COVID-19 vaccination among the Arab ethnic minority: A syndemics framework

“…Studies worldwide shows that low SES populations suffer from unhealthy lifestyles compared to high SES populations ( 49 ). On the other hand, health education and health promotion programs among the lower SES population may encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors such as smoking cessation ( 50 ), undergoing medical screening tests ( 51 ), seasonal flu vaccination uptake ( 52 ), and healthy nutrition ( 53 ). Such health programs can also encourage personal and community empowerment ( 47 ).…”