TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - The inability of self-affirmations to decrease defensive bias towards an alcohol-related risk message among high-risk college students
JO  - Journal of American college health
A1  - Meier, Ellen
A1  - Miller, Mary Beth
A1  - Lechner, William V.
A1  - Lombardi, Nate
A1  - Claborn, Kasey R.
A1  - Leffingwell, Thad R.
SP  - 324
EP  - 329
VL  - 63
IS  - 5
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0744-8481
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2014.1003377
ID  - ref1
ER  -