Mechanisms of change for two brief alcohol interventions: Testing theoretical mediators for counter attitudinal advocacy and personalized feedback intervention effects.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Given the importance of identifying mechanisms of action for the development and dissemination of alcohol interventions, this study tests theory-based mechanisms of change for two brief alcohol interventions.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of data from an efficacy trial that compared a novel intervention based on Counter Attitudinal Advocacy (CAA) to an evidence-based intervention using Personalized Normative Feedback (PNF) and an assessment-only control. Participants consisted of 585 heavy-drinking college students who reported experiencing alcohol-related consequences. Hypothesized mediators were linked to the theoretical underpinning of each intervention: perceived descriptive norms (PNF), dissonance (PNF and CAA), attitudes (CAA), and protective beh

SUBMITTER: DiBello AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12828102 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature