A randomized, controlled trial to test the efficacy of an online, parent-based intervention for reducing the risks associated with college-student alcohol use

Abstract

Alcohol consumption among college students remains a major public health concern. Universal, Web-based interventions to reduce risks associated with student alcohol consumption have been found to be effective in changing their alcohol-related behavior. Recent studies also indicate that parent-based interventions, delivered in booklet form, are effective. A parent-based intervention that is also Web-based may be well suited to a dispersed parent population; however, no such tool is currently available. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of an online parent-based intervention designed to (1) increase communication between parents and students about alcohol and (2) reduce risks associated with alcohol use to students. A total of 558 participants, comprising 279 parent-teen dyads, were enrolled in the study. The findings suggested that parents who participated in the online intervention were more likely to discuss protective behavioral strategies, particularly those related to manner of drinking and stopping/limiting drinking, with their teens, as compared with parents in an e-newsletter control group. Moreover, students whose parents received the intervention were more likely to use a range of protective behavioral strategies, particularly those related to manner of drinking and stopping/limiting drinking, as compared with students whose parents did not receive the intervention. A universal, online, parent-based intervention to reduce risks associated with student alcohol consumption may be an efficient and effective component of a college’s overall prevention strategy.

Normative feedback for parents of college students: Piloting a parent based intervention to correct misperceptions of students' alcohol use and other parents' approval of drinking

“…Donovan and colleagues (2012) demonstrated that a four-week web-based PBI could change parents’ communication about protective behavioral strategies. The current study is the first to test the potential effectiveness of a shorter intervention.…”

“…The Internet is increasingly used to deliver health and risk behavior information due to cost-effectiveness, ability to personalize information, and accessibility (Muñoz et al, 2006;Strecher, Shiffman, & West, 2005). To our knowledge, Donovan et al (2012) is the only study to date to specifically explore the efficacy of a web-based PBI. In this study, parents of college students took part in a four-week web-based intervention that aimed to enhance parent communication skills and provide information on ways to discuss protective behavioral strategies (PBS) used to reduce negative consequences associated with drinking.…”

Introduction to Special Issue

“…There has also been some success in addressing college-aged substance use by involving parents through providing this kind of information. For example, "My Student Body program," an online intervention for parents of college students (Donovan, Wood, Frayjo, Black, & Surette, 2012) and the "Parent-Based Intervention" program, where parents were sent a handbook by mail with information on alcohol abuse among college students and its effects, techniques for improving parent-teen communication, and advice on how to help teens become more assertive and resist peer pressure (Turrisi et al, 2013).…”

Participación parental en intervenciones familiares para prevenir drogodependencias: una revisión empírica

“…Smit et al, 2008;Kaminski, Valle, Filene & Boyle, 2008) indicated that these interventions have demonstrated efficacy in preventing substance use and other child problem behaviors. These positive results have been reported in different settings (Aalborg et al, 2010;Letarte, Normandeau & Allard, 2010;Redmond et al, 2009;Henggeler & Schoenwald, 2011;Brook, McDonald & Yan, 2012;Donavan, Wood, Frayjo, Black & Surette, 2012), target groups (Mindel & Hoefer, 2006;Orte, Touza, Ballester & March, 2008;McDaniel, Braiden, Onyekwelu, Murphy & Regan, 2011;Posthumus, Raaimakers, Maassen, Engeland, & Matthys, 2012;Kumpfer, Whiteside, Greene & Allen, 2010), cultures (Skärstrand, Larsson & Andréasson, 2008;Pérez, et al, 2009;Kumpfer, Xie & O'Driscoll, 2012;Brotman et al, 2009;Ortega, Giannotta, Latina & Ciairano, 2012) and addicted behaviours (Trudeau, Spoth, Randall & Azevedo, 2007;Zhong, et al, 2011;Donovan et al, 2012). …”