@article{ref1,
title="The inability of self-affirmations to decrease defensive bias towards an alcohol-related risk message among high-risk college students",
journal="Journal of American college health",
year="2015",
author="Meier, Ellen and Miller, Mary Beth and Lechner, William V. and Lombardi, Nate and Claborn, Kasey R. and Leffingwell, Thad R.",
volume="63",
number="5",
pages="324-329",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of a self-affirmation task in deterring college alcohol misuse and the importance of pre-existing beliefs in predicting subsequent behavior change. Participants: Heavy drinking undergraduates (N=110) participated during the 2011-2012 academic year. <br><br>METHODS: Participants were randomized to complete an affirmation or control task before reading an alcohol risk message. Alcohol-related beliefs and behaviors were assessed. Participants completed a two-week online follow-up assessing alcohol-related behaviors. <br><br>RESULTS: Both groups reported increased perceived problem importance, but neither group displayed changes in personal risk. Follow-up assessment revealed similar, significant declines in peak consumption in both groups, with no significant between-group differences. Pre-existing beliefs accounted for 5 to 10 percent of variance in drinking outcomes. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: An affirmation task does not seem to decrease defensive processing or alter high-risk drinking behaviors among college students and should not be utilized in lieu of more effective strategies.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0744-8481",
doi="10.1080/07448481.2014.1003377",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2014.1003377"
}