The effectiveness of an innovative intervention aimed at reducing binge drinking among young people:results from a pilot study

Abstract

Aims: To assess the effectiveness of a digital-story intervention (short videos made by young people) seeking to reduce the prevalence of young people's binge drinking in Caerphilly. Method: A quasi-experimental design was adopted with three intervention sites and one control site providing the sample (mainly aged 1415 years). Three rounds of self-completion questionnaires, completed prior (T1), immediately after (T2) and 6 months after the intervention (T3). Findings: A total of 1031 questionnaires completed across the three time-points. Two-factor ANOVAs revealed a positive effect on knowledge for the intervention sample. The intervention group results showed stable attitudes towards drinking at the three time-points whilst the control group showed increasing positive attitudes towards drunkenness over the same time period. Intentions towards drunkenness were higher in the control group than the intervention group at T2 (ControlT1 Mean 3.37, T2 Mean 3.90; interventionT1 Mean 3.26, T2 Mean 3.29). Intervention participants got drunk on fewer occasions in the last week (mean occasions last week 1.57) compared to control participants (mean occasions last week 2.00), with the difference approaching statistical significance (F 1.90, p 0.07). Conclusions: Promoting negative attitudes towards drunkenness, alongside a greater sense of control and potential regret about drunkenness are likely to be important factors when considering how to change people's intentions to drink. The study shows the potential to reduce the frequency of drinking behaviour when intentions are changed, and provides recommendations for future interventions of this nature.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/09687630802572599
Divisions: College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Psychology
College of Health & Life Sciences
College of Health & Life Sciences > Chronic and Communicable Conditions
Additional Information: Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Publication ISSN: 1465-3370
Last Modified: 20 Mar 2024 08:10
Date Deposited: 06 Jul 2012 09:36
Full Text Link: http://informah ... 687630802572599
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2010-07-01
Authors: Coleman, Lester
Ramm, Josephine
Cooke, Richard (ORCID Profile 0000-0003-0476-6284)

Download

[img]

Version: Accepted Version


Export / Share Citation


Statistics

Additional statistics for this record