A sport-based intervention for preventing alcohol use and promoting physical activity among adolescents

Abstract

This study tested the potential of a novel intervention addressing alcohol prevention within the context of a sport program. Study participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups, with one group receiving the sport consultation (Sport), a second the sport consultation plus an alcohol consultation (Sport Plus), and a third a sport consultation, alcohol consultation, and mailed parent print materials (Sport Plus Parent). Researchers recruited 465 eighth graders from three schools in the northeast Florida region to participate in the study. The Youth Alcohol and Health Survey was used to collect data on alcohol and drug consumption, alcohol use risk and protective factors, and exercise habits at baseline and three-month post-intervention. Significant time effects (p's < .05) were found on three of six alcohol measures, both exercise measures, and four risk/protective factors, with all but one risk factor showing improvements over time. Time by assignment by current drinking status (yes/no) interaction effects (p's < .05) were found on alcohol initiation, length of alcohol use, quantity, heavy use, moderate physical activity, and four risk/protective factors, with preintervention drinking adolescents exposed to the Sport intervention showing the greatest improvements on all but two measures. Findings suggest that a brief sport-based screen and consultation tailored to adolescents' health habits, with and without parent materials, may potentially reduce alcohol use while increasing exercise frequency.