Reducing Alcohol Use Among High School Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Brief, Web-Based Personalized Normative Feedback Intervention

in The Sport Psychologist

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Diana M. DoumasBoise State University

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Nadine R. MastroleoBinghamton University

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2020-0022
Keywords:
drinking; underage drinking; substance use; eCHECKUP TO GO; seniors
First Published Online:
11 Feb 2021
In Print:
Volume 35: Issue 1
Page Range:
55–63
Restricted access

High school athletes are at risk for heavy alcohol use, which is associated with consequences that may negatively impact performance and eligibility to participate in sports. This study evaluated the efficacy of a web-based personalized normative feedback intervention on reducing alcohol use among high school athletes in their senior year. Class periods were randomized to the intervention or an assessment-only control group. Athletes completed surveys at baseline and at a 6-week follow-up. They were classified as high-risk or low-risk drinkers based on baseline reports of binge drinking. Results indicated that for athletes classified as high-risk drinkers, those in the intervention group reported significantly greater reductions in quantity of weekly drinking and peak drinking quantity compared with those in the assessment-only control group. There were no significant intervention effects for frequency of alcohol use. Findings support the efficacy of web-based personalized normative feedback intervention for reducing alcohol use among high school senior athletes.

Doumas is with the Dept. of Counselor Education and Inst. for the Study of Behavioral Health and Addiction, Boise State University, Boise, ID. Mastroleo is with the Dept. of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY.

Doumas (dianadoumas@boisestate.edu) is corresponding author.
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