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
. 2008 Oct;36(2):149-57.
doi: 10.1007/s12160-008-9055-6. Epub 2008 Sep 18.

Efficacy of a brief image-based multiple-behavior intervention for college students

Chudley E Werch  1 , Michele J Moore, Hui Bian, Carlo C DiClemente, Steven C Ames, Robert M Weiler, Dennis Thombs, Steven B Pokorny, I-Chan Huang
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Efficacy of a brief image-based multiple-behavior intervention for college students

Chudley E Werch et al. Ann Behav Med. 2008 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Epidemiologic data indicate most adolescents and adults experience multiple, simultaneous risk behaviors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of a brief image-based multiple-behavior intervention (MBI) for college students.

Methods: A total of 303 college students were randomly assigned to: (1) a brief MBI or (2) a standard care control, with a 3-month postintervention follow-up.

Results: Omnibus treatment by time multivariate analysis of variance interactions were significant for three of six behavior groupings, with improvements for college students receiving the brief MBI on alcohol consumption behaviors, F(6, 261) = 2.73, p = 0.01, marijuana-use behaviors, F(4, 278) = 3.18, p = 0.01, and health-related quality of life, F(5, 277) = 2.80, p = 0.02, but not cigarette use, exercise, and nutrition behaviors. Participants receiving the brief MBI also got more sleep, F(1, 281) = 9.49, p = 0.00, than those in the standard care control.

Conclusions: A brief image-based multiple-behavior intervention may be useful in influencing a number of critical health habits and health-related quality-of-life indicators of college students.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Southern Illinois University Carbondale Results of the core alcohol and drug survey. Available at: http://www.siu.edu/departments/coreinst/public_html.
    1. Lowery R, Galuska DA, Fulton JE, et al. Physical activity, food choice, and weight management goals and practices among U.S. college students. Am J Prev Med. 2000;18(1):18–27. - PubMed
    1. Huang TTK, Harris KJ, Lee RE, et al. Assessing overweight, obesity, diet, and physical activity in college students. J Am Coll Health. 2003;52:83–86. - PubMed
    1. Keating XD, Guan J, Pinero JC, et al. A meta-analysis of college students' physical activity behaviors. J Am Coll Health. 2005;54(2):116–125. - PubMed
    1. Towbes LC, Cohen LH. Chronic stress in the lives of college students: Scale development and prospective prediction of distress. J Youth Adolescence. 1996;25(2):199–217.

Publication types

MeSH terms