Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2006 Sep;25(5):571-9.
doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.25.5.571.

Being controlled by normative influences: self-determination as a moderator of a normative feedback alcohol intervention

Clayton Neighbors  1 , Melissa A Lewis, Rochelle L Bergstrom, Mary E Larimer
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Being controlled by normative influences: self-determination as a moderator of a normative feedback alcohol intervention

Clayton Neighbors et al. Health Psychol. 2006 Sep.

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to evaluate the efficacy of computer-delivered personalized normative feedback among heavy drinking college students and to evaluate controlled orientation as a moderator of intervention efficacy. Participants (N = 217) included primarily freshman and sophomore, heavy drinking students who were randomly assigned to receive or not to receive personalized normative feedback immediately following baseline assessment. Perceived norms, number of drinks per week, and alcohol-related problems were the main outcome measures. Controlled orientation was specified as a moderator. At 2-month follow-up, students who received normative feedback reported drinking fewer drinks per week than did students who did not receive feedback, and this reduction was mediated by changes in perceived norms. The intervention also reduced alcohol-related negative consequences among students who were higher in controlled orientation. These results provide further support for computer-delivered personalized normative feedback as an empirically supported brief intervention for heavy drinking college students, and they enhance the understanding of why and for whom normative feedback is effective.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The effect of normative feedback on perceived norms and drinking.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in perceived norms as a mediator of normative feedback efficacy. *p < .05. **p < .001.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The effect of normative feedback on typical drinks per week by controlled orientation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Aiken LS. Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; 1991.
    1. Arbuckle JL, Wothke W. Amos 4.0 user’s guide. Chicago: SmallWaters Corporation; 1999.
    1. Asch SE. Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgment. In: Guetzkow H, editor. Groups, leadership, and men. Pittsburg, PA: Carnegie Press; 1951. pp. 177–190.
    1. Baer JS, Carney MM. Biases in the perceptions of the consequences of alcohol use among college students. Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 1993;54:54–60. - PubMed
    1. Baer JS, Stacy A, Larimer M. Biases in the perception of drinking norms among college students. Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 1991;52:580–586. - PubMed

Publication types