The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48547

Alice A. Jaglowski, BS¹, Michele J. Moore, PhD¹, Chudley E. Werch, PhD¹, Pamela S. Chally, PhD, RN², Joan M. Carlson, MSW¹, and Carla C. Sain, MA¹. (1) Center for Drug Prevention Research, University of North Florida, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road, South, Building 39, Room 3042, Jacksonville, FL 32224-2645, 904-620-2847, jaga0001@unf.edu, (2) Dean, College of Health, University of North Florida, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road, South, Jacksonville, FL 32224-2645

The purpose of this study was to test prevention messages for a binge drinking intervention project funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Messages were developed after an extensive literature review, critiqued by a class of 23 college students and finalized by a panel of experts. The seven messages included two tailored to binge drinking behavior and one addressing each of the following: social norms, health risks, expectancy outcomes, myths/facts, and parent expectations. Eighty students were recruited in a convenience sample via classroom attendance at a southeastern university. Students completed a short demographic survey and rated the seven messages using a 5-point Likert scale for believability, clarity, impact on alcohol use, and perceived usefulness of mailing messages to all students. The majority of students were female (76%), white (81%), used alcohol in the past 30 days (74%), and under the age of 21 (75%). Significant differences in message ratings were found for gender, race, drinkers and bingers. Females, non-whites, non-drinkers, and non-bingers rated the messages as more believable, likely to impact their own alcohol use and likely to be useful if mailed to all students (p's<.05). Further findings comparing perceptions by gender and race among drinkers vs. non-drinkers and bingers vs. non-bingers will be discussed. Student perceptions of prevention messages for binge drinking interventions are vital to the research development process, and will aid in targeting messages to the intended audience. Implications of these results in developing college binge drinking intervention will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Identify prevention messages for binge interventions that college students will find believable, clear, likely to impact alcohol use, and likely to be useful if mailed to students.
• 2.Discuss differences across gender, race, drinkers and bingers on perceptions on binge prevention messages.
• 3.Develop binge intervention messages that will be useful and effective among college students.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.