Examining engagement with and acceptability and usability of REAL Parenting: A brief online parent-based intervention to reduce alcohol use and consequences among high school students

Examination of Brief Parent-Based Interventions to Reduce Drinking Outcomes on a Nationally Representative Sample of Teenagers

PURPOSE

Examine brief parent interventions (PBIs) on a nationally representative sample of teenagers (ages 15-18 years) to change drinking, teens declining (i.e., saying no) to ride with impaired drivers, and increase parent communication about alcohol.

METHODS

Parent-teen dyads (N = 1,176) recruited from a web panel completed online surveys at baseline (T1), 30 days (T2), 6 months (T3), and 12 months (T4) post baseline (Psex: 54% female; Tsex: 49% female; Tage: M = 16.33, SD = 1.09; 76% White, 27% Hispanic). Dyads were randomly assigned to: Active Control (n = 390, 33.1%), Surgeon General (SG; n = 393, 33.4%), or Mothers Against Drunk Driving PBI (MADD; n = 393, 33.4%). Aim 1 was an intent-to-treat analysis of the efficacy comparing the Active Control, SG, and MADD conditions on typical weekend drinking and declining riding with an impaired driver from T1 to T4. Aim 2 examined differences in parent communication at T2 by different levels of engagement. Aim 3 examined differences in efficacy comparing the SG and MADD engagement subgroups at T4. Aims were evaluated by comparing means using Tukey's test to reduce experiment-wise error.

RESULTS

Aim 1 revealed no differences in drinking, but participants in the SG and MADD conditions were able to maintain increases in declining riding with impaired drivers. Aim 2 revealed highly engaged participants reported higher parent communication than moderate and low participants. Aim 3 revealed some highly engaged participants reported less drinking and more declining riding with impaired drivers.

DISCUSSION

PBIs may be successful in helping teens decline rides with impaired drivers. Highly engaged parents reported more positive program outcomes than moderate and low engaged parents.

Effects of the FITSTART + PBI on drinking and negative alcohol-related consequences during the first year of college

Objective: This study evaluated FITSTART+, a parent-based intervention (PBI), for preventing risky drinking among first-year college students. Participants: Participants were traditional first-year students aged between 17 and 20. Method: In total, 391 eligible students completed a baseline survey and their parents were then invited to use the FITSTART+ PBI or Control web-applications. 266 students had a parent who created a profile in the app (FITSTART+ PBI, n = 134; FITSTART+ Control, n = 132). Additionally, 58 parents randomized to the FITSTART+ PBI did not complete the personalized normative feedback (PNF) component of the intervention. Results: No significant effect on drinking or related consequences was detected between Intervention and Control groups. However, exploratory analyses revealed that completing PNF in the FITSTART+ PBI condition was associated with a greater likelihood of remaining zero on consequences at follow-ups. Conclusion: The PNF component of the FITSTART+ PBI showed potential in preventing risky drinking, warranting further research.