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Angelo KM, Ciampaglio K, Richards J, Silva A, Ebelke C, Flaherty GT, Brunette G, Kohl S. Travel Health-Related Preparation Practices of Institutions of Higher Education and Occurrence of Health-Related Events among Undergraduate Students Studying Abroad, 2018-2021. FRONTIERS (BOSTON, MASS.) 2024; 36:418-498. [PMID: 38737532 PMCID: PMC11085015 DOI: 10.36366/frontiers.v36i1.871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Background Knowledge of specific health-related events encountered by students studying abroad and the availability and use of pre-travel healthcare for these students is lacking. Methods Anonymous web-based questionnaires were sent to study abroad offices, student health centers, and undergraduate students after studying abroad at eight institutions of higher education in the United States and Ireland from 2018-2021. Analyses were descriptive; relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for health-related events. Results One study abroad office required a pre-travel consultation. All student health centers had pre-travel counseling available. Among 686 students, there were 307 infectious and 1,588 non-infectious health-related issues; 12 students (2%) were hospitalized. Duration of travel and timing of a pre-travel consultation impacted the risk of health-related events. Certain mental health conditions were associated with increased risk of alcohol and drug use. Conclusion Future studies should address the optimal timing and best practices to optimize health for students studying abroad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M. Angelo
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Kaitlyn Ciampaglio
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Julie Richards
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Anjali Silva
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | | | | | - Gary Brunette
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Sarah Kohl
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
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Pedersen ER, D'Amico EJ, LaBrie JW, Klein DJ, Farris C, Griffin BA. A randomized controlled trial of an online alcohol and sexual risk prevention program for college students studying abroad. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION TREATMENT 2023; 145:208951. [PMID: 36880917 PMCID: PMC10166257 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.208951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION American college students who study abroad experience increases in their drinking behavior, concerning risky sexual behaviors, and high rates of sexual violence while abroad. Despite these concerns, institutions offer limited programming to students prior to departure to address these risks and no empirically supported interventions currently exist that are targeted toward preventing increased drinking, risky sexual behavior, and sexual violence abroad. To help address alcohol and sexual risk abroad, we designed a brief, single-session online predeparture intervention focused on risk and protective factors known to associate with alcohol and sexual risk abroad. METHODS Using a sample of 650 college students from 40 home institutions, we conducted a randomized controlled trial of the intervention and tested its effects on drinking (drinks per week, binge drinking frequency, alcohol related-consequences), risky sexual behaviors, and sexual violence victimization during the trip abroad (first month, last month abroad) and one-month and three-months after return home. RESULTS We observed small, but nonsignificant, intervention effects on drinks per week and binge drinking days during the first month abroad and three months after they had returned home to the United States, and small, significant effects on risky sexual behaviors during the first month abroad. The study found no observable effects at any time point for alcohol-related consequences or for sexual violence victimization abroad. CONCLUSIONS Though mostly nonsignificant, small initial intervention effects were promising in this first empirical test of an alcohol and sexual risk prevention program for study abroad students. However, students may need more intensive programming with booster sessions to experience lasting intervention effects during this particularly high-risk period. CLINICALTRIALS GOV IDENTIFIER NCT03928067.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Pedersen
- University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, United States of America.
| | - Elizabeth J D'Amico
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407, United States of America
| | - Joseph W LaBrie
- Department of Psychology, Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045, United States of America
| | - David J Klein
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407, United States of America
| | - Coreen Farris
- RAND Corporation, 4570 Fifth Ave, Ste. #600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Beth Ann Griffin
- RAND Corporation, 1200 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA 22202, United States of America
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Pedersen ER, D'Amico EJ, LaBrie JW, Klein DJ, Farris C, Griffin BA. Alcohol and Sexual Risk among American College Students Studying Abroad. PREVENTION SCIENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION RESEARCH 2020; 21:926-936. [PMID: 32683572 PMCID: PMC7485613 DOI: 10.1007/s11121-020-01149-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies show that during study abroad experiences, college students greatly increase their drinking behavior, experience multiple alcohol-related consequences, engage in sexual risk behaviors, and are at-risk for sexual violence victimization. These studies, however, have been limited by small sample sizes of students from single institutions who are often studying in a particular country or region. To better understand the extent of the risks experienced by college students studying abroad, we conducted a longitudinal survey study of 2630 students from 65 different US colleges and universities studying in 12 diverse locations abroad. Total drinks per week and heavy drinking days more than doubled while students were abroad, with heavier predeparture drinkers, men, and students under age 21 experiencing the greatest increases. There were few observed overall changes in alcohol-related consequences and risky sexual behaviors; however, specific groups, such as those with heavier predeparture consequences and sexual risk behaviors, men, and those on longer abroad programs reported greater consequences and risky sex abroad. One in five students (21%) experienced sexual violence abroad, with non-consensual physical contact the most prevalent form. Women, those under age 21, and those with a history of sexual violence were most likely to experience sexual violence abroad. Findings indicate that study abroad students may warrant targeted predeparture programming to help prevent heavy drinking and sexual violence experiences abroad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Pedersen
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA, 90407, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2250 Alcazar Street, Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
| | - Elizabeth J D'Amico
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA, 90407, USA
| | - Joseph W LaBrie
- Department of Psychology, Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90045, USA
| | - David J Klein
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA, 90407, USA
| | - Coreen Farris
- RAND Corporation, 4570 Fifth Ave, Ste. #600, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Beth Ann Griffin
- RAND Corporation, 1200 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
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Firth C, LaBrie JW, D'Amico EJ, Klein DJ, Griffin BA, Pedersen ER. Changes in Cigarette, E-Cigarette, and Cannabis Use among U.S. College Students Studying Abroad. Subst Use Misuse 2020; 55:1683-1691. [PMID: 32364038 PMCID: PMC7485612 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2020.1756853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Background: Study abroad experiences among U.S. college students are risky environments for alcohol use; however little work has examined how studying abroad may affect other substance use. Purpose: This study assesses changes in frequency of cigarette, e-cigarette, and cannabis use among students studying abroad. Methods: We recruited study abroad students from 63 institutions who studied in the 12 most popular destinations; 2,086 students completed surveys before leaving the U.S. and during their last month abroad. Descriptive and multivariate mixed-effects regression analysis compared substance use by location between students and country natives using publicly available data, identified behavioral and demographic predictors of frequency of substance use abroad, and estimated average adjusted prevalence of substance use by location. Results: Students' cigarette smoking increased three-fold while abroad; patterns of use varied significantly by location and mirrored smoking behaviors of native young adults. Rates of e-cigarette use declined while abroad and rates of cannabis use were similar abroad to pre-departure rates. However, cannabis use varied substantially by location and were higher than native peer rates. For all substances, most frequent substance use abroad was reported among males and those with prior histories of single drug and polydrug use. Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of continued research on drug use abroad among U.S. college students and pave the way for initial prevention and intervention efforts to target drug use abroad, particularly for cigarettes due to the negative health consequences of use and for cannabis given the potential legal ramification of use in non-legalized countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph W LaBrie
- Department of Psychology, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Pedersen ER, D'Amico EJ, LaBrie JW, Farris C, Klein DJ, Griffin BA. An online alcohol and risky sex prevention program for college students studying abroad: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2019; 14:32. [PMID: 31429802 PMCID: PMC6700838 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-019-0162-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study protocol describes a proposed randomized controlled trial that builds upon a successful pilot intervention study to address problematic and dangerous drinking among young adult college students studying abroad in foreign environments. Despite universities and colleges citing alcohol misuse as the most concerning issue for their students abroad, most institutions offer no empirically-based prevention efforts tailored to this at-risk population. The proposed intervention attempts to fill a major gap for the nearly 333,000 students completing study abroad programs each year by using empirically-based and theoretically-informed risk and protective factors to correct misperceived peer drinking norms and promote cultural engagement abroad. In addition to preventing heavy and problematic drinking, the intervention seeks to prevent risky sexual behaviors (e.g., sex without a condom) and experience of sexual violence victimization, which are strikingly common among study abroad students and have the potential for lasting physical and psychological effects upon return home. METHODS/DESIGN We will conduct a randomized controlled trial of an intervention with a sample of 1200 college students studying abroad from approximately 50 US universities and colleges. The brief, online intervention is text and video based and contains evidence-based components of personalized normative feedback to correct students' misperceived drinking norms, content to promote engagement with the cultural experience abroad and address difficulties adjusting to life in the foreign environment, and tips and strategies to prevent risky sexual behaviors and sexual violence victimization abroad. Participants will complete online surveys at five time points (predeparture, first month abroad, last month abroad, 1-month post-return, and 3-months post-return) to assess for intervention effects on drinking behavior, drinking consequences, risky sex, and sexual violence outcomes. We will examine whether the mechanisms targeted by the intervention (changes in perceived norms, engagement in the cultural experience abroad) serve as mediators of intervention efficacy. DISCUSSION The proposed study has the potential to fill an important gap in the research literature and provide empirical support for an online accessible, brief, and targeted approach that can easily be distributed to study abroad students to help prevent heavy alcohol use and sexual risk abroad. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03928067.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Pedersen
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA, 90407-2138, USA.
| | - Elizabeth J D'Amico
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA, 90407-2138, USA
| | - Joseph W LaBrie
- Department of Psychology, Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90045, USA
| | - Coreen Farris
- RAND Corporation, 4570 Fifth Ave, Ste. #600, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - David J Klein
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA, 90407-2138, USA
| | - Beth Ann Griffin
- RAND Corporation, 1200 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
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Dormal V, Lannoy S, Maurage P. Impact of Exchange Stay on Alcohol Consumption: Longitudinal Exploration in a Large Sample of European Students. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:1220-1224. [PMID: 31034623 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Each year, more than 300,000 university students take part in European exchange programs. Besides their positive educational and cultural impacts, these programs are also reputed to immerse students in a high-risk festive context where excessive alcohol consumption is strongly present. There is thus a crucial need to evaluate the actual impact of those exchange stays on alcohol consumption. METHODS Study abroad (n = 3,950) and local (n = 3,950) European students completed a 2-part longitudinal survey and reported their alcohol consumption before (T1) and during (T2) their exchange stay (or at the beginning of the academic year and 6 months later for local students, constituting the control group). RESULTS During their exchange stay, individuals studying abroad showed more excessive and harmful alcohol consumption behaviors than local students, as measured by increased general alcohol consumption and binge drinking (BD) scores at T2. In particular, study abroad students under 20 years of age and performing their exchange stay in eastern Europe were the most exposed to excessive alcohol consumption and BD. CONCLUSIONS These results constitute the first large-scale longitudinal confirmation that exchange stays indeed constitute risky contexts in which students significantly increase their consumption and present stronger alcohol-related problems. In view of the rapid and deleterious effects of alcohol consumption in young people, it is essential to promote prevention campaigns targeting this population to limit public health consequences and possible evolution toward severe alcohol use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Dormal
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences Psychologiques, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Séverine Lannoy
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences Psychologiques, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Pierre Maurage
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences Psychologiques, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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Bird ER, Seehuus M, Heiman JR, Davis KC, Norris J, George WH. Sexual vs. Nonsexual Currently Most Upsetting Trauma: A Fresh Look at Attenuation of Sexual Response, Alcohol Intoxication, and Post-Traumatic Stress. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2018; 55:915-926. [PMID: 29023137 PMCID: PMC6195219 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2017.1380159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the dependence of sexual response (vaginal pulse amplitude [VPA] and subjective sexual arousal) on alcohol intoxication (.10% breath alcohol concentration [BrAC] versus no alcohol) and the nature of a woman's currently most upsetting traumatic event (C-MUTE), whether it was sexual (e.g., rape) or nonsexual (e.g., combat). Self-reported sexual outcomes were also compared by C-MUTE type. A total of 117 women completed background measures and either drank alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages. They were shown erotic films and their VPA was assessed. A two (sexual versus nonsexual C-MUTE) by two (.10% BrAC versus no alcohol) analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that, controlling for post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms, women with a sexual C-MUTE showed lower percent VPA change than women with a nonsexual C-MUTE. No significant effects were found for subjective sexual arousal. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed that women with a sexual C-MUTE reported more frequent anxiety and inhibition during partnered sex and more frequent lack of vaginal lubrication versus women with a nonsexual C-MUTE. There was no significant interaction between C-MUTE and alcohol intoxication. Whether a woman is currently upset by past sexual victimization may influence current sexual difficulties. Attenuated VPA may be attributable to the sexual nature of a C-MUTE as opposed to general trauma exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Julia R Heiman
- c Psychological and Brain Sciences , Indiana University
- d The Kinsey Institute , Indiana University
| | | | - Jeanette Norris
- f Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute , University of Washington
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Angelo KM, Haulman NJ, Terry AC, Leung DT, Chen LH, Barnett ED, Hagmann SHF, Hynes NA, Connor BA, Anderson S, McCarthy A, Shaw M, Van Genderen PJJ, Hamer DH. Illness among US resident student travellers after return to the USA: a GeoSentinel analysis, 2007-17. J Travel Med 2018; 25:5078557. [PMID: 30202952 PMCID: PMC6503850 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tay074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Background The number of US students studying abroad more than tripled during the past 20 years. As study abroad programmes' destinations diversify, students increasingly travel to resource-limited countries, placing them at risk for infectious diseases. Data describing infections acquired by US students while travelling internationally are limited. We describe illnesses among students who returned from international travel and suggest how to prevent illness among these travellers. Methods GeoSentinel is a global surveillance network of travel and tropical medicine providers that monitors travel-related morbidity. This study included the records of US resident student international travellers, 17-24 years old, who returned to the USA, had a confirmed travel-related illness at one of 15 US GeoSentinel sites during 2007-17 and had a documented exposure region. Records were analysed to describe demographic and travel characteristics and diagnoses. Results The study included 432 students. The median age was 21 years; 69% were female. More than 70% had a pre-travel consultation with a healthcare provider. The most common exposure region was sub-Saharan Africa (112; 26%). Students were most commonly exposed in India (44; 11%), Ecuador (28; 7%), Ghana (25; 6%) and China (24; 6%). The median duration of travel abroad was 40 days (range: 1-469) and presented to a GeoSentinel site a median of 8 days (range: 0-181) after travel; 98% were outpatients. Of 581 confirmed diagnoses, the most common diagnosis category was gastrointestinal (45%). Acute diarrhoea was the most common gastrointestinal diagnosis (113 of 261; 43%). Thirty-one (7%) students had vector-borne diseases [14 (41%) malaria and 11 (32%) dengue]. Three had vaccine-preventable diseases (two typhoid; one hepatitis A); two had acute human immunodeficiency virus infection. Conclusions Students experienced travel-related infections, despite the majority having a pre-travel consultation. US students should receive pre-travel advice, vaccinations and chemoprophylaxis to prevent gastrointestinal, vector-borne, sexually transmitted and vaccine-preventable infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M. Angelo
- Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - N. Jean Haulman
- Hall Health Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Anne C. Terry
- Hall Health Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Daniel T. Leung
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Lin H. Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mt. Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Elizabeth D. Barnett
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02138, USA
| | - Stefan H. F. Hagmann
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, New Hyde Park, NY 11557, USA
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
| | - Noreen A. Hynes
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Bradley A. Connor
- New York Center for Travel and Tropical Medicine, New York, NY 10022, USA
- Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Susan Anderson
- Department of Medicine/Infectious Diseases, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anne McCarthy
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Marc Shaw
- James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
- Worldwise Travellers’ Health Centres, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Davidson H. Hamer
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Vincke E, Vyncke P. Does Alcohol Catch the Eye? Investigating Young Adults' Attention to Alcohol Consumption. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2017; 15:1474704917730207. [PMID: 28946754 PMCID: PMC10638873 DOI: 10.1177/1474704917730207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Many studies on young adults' motivations for drinking overlook the symbolic aspects of alcohol use. However, research indicates that young adults' alcohol consumption is also driven by signaling motivations. Although the interest of a receiver is a necessary prerequisite of a signal, no previous studies have verified whether drinking behavior indeed attracts young adults' attention. Therefore, we conducted two studies. A two-part eye-tracking study ( N1 = 135, N2 = 140) showed that both young men and young women pay special visual attention to male and female drinking behavior. Additionally, a recall experiment ( N = 321) confirmed that observed male and female drinking is better remembered than observed nonsignaling, functional behavior. Moreover, alcoholic beverages also receive special attention, as they were recalled better than other functional products, and also nonalcoholic drinks similar in color and shape. In summary, the experiments clearly showed that male and female drinking behavior can be used as a signal, as both behaviors clearly function as an attention-attracting cue. Additionally, as alcoholic beverages draw more attention than nonalcoholic drinks, this attention is clearly linked to the alcohol element of the drinking behavior.
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Pedersen ER, Neighbors C, Atkins DC, Lee CM, Larimer ME. Brief online interventions targeting risk and protective factors for increased and problematic alcohol use among American college students studying abroad. PSYCHOLOGY OF ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS 2017; 31:220-230. [PMID: 28080092 DOI: 10.1037/adb0000242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Research documents increased and problematic alcohol use during study abroad experiences for college students yet no research documents effective preventive programs with these students. The present randomized controlled trial was designed to prevent increased and problematic alcohol use abroad by correcting misperceptions of peer drinking norms abroad and by promoting positive and healthy adjustment into the host culture (i.e., sojourner adjustment) through brief online personalized feedback interventions. A sample of 343 study abroad college students was randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions including a personalized normative feedback intervention (PNF), a sojourner adjustment feedback intervention (SAF), a combined PNF + SAF intervention, and an assessment-only control condition. Generalized estimated equation analyses accounting for baseline drinking and consequences revealed an intervention effect for PNF that was mitigated by baseline drinking level, such that PNF was best for those with lighter baseline drinking, but heavier baseline drinkers receiving PNF alone or PNF + SAF drank comparatively similar or more heavily abroad to those in the control condition. However, PNF + SAF condition participants with greater baseline levels of consequences reported comparatively less consequences abroad than their control participants. Thus, PNF alone may be helpful for lighter drinkers at predeparture and the addition of SAF to PNF may help prevent consequences abroad for those reporting more consequences prior to departure abroad. This research represents an important first step in designing and implementing efficacious interventions with at-risk study abroad college students, for which no current empirically based programs exist. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David C Atkins
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington
| | - Christine M Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington
| | - Mary E Larimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington
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