This systematic review, published in Alcohol and Alcoholism, suggests that the internet is more effective than print-based interventions but less effective than face-to-face interventions for binge drinking among college students. The title links to the full article. The Use of the Internet for Prevention of Binge Drinking Among the College Population: A Systematic Review of [...]
Our colleagues at "The Well" at Virginia Commonwealth University recently found an interesting way to capture students' opinion of the Stall Seat Journals (SSJ) that are a core part of the social norms intervention program there: Linda Hancock, PhD, CFNP, RN, Director of the Well, describes what she did: "I just gave out 3x5 cards [...]
Bystander Training for Drinking Situations among College Students How can bystanders become rescuers? Bystander training programs help give individuals skills and confidence to intervene in risky situations like sexual violence, bullying, drug overdoses, and drunk driving. However, people intervening often face dilemmas in balancing concern for the safety of others with maintaining their own social [...]
Six key ingredients can increase success Social marketing uses conventional marketing tools and techniques with the aim not of making profit, but of promoting individual and group behavior changes that reap health or social benefits. There are 6 key elements in the social marketing approach that work best when used all together. A new literature [...]
Adrienne Keller, Ph.D., Research Director, National Social Norms Institute I recently had the opportunity to think about what I considered the essential ingredients to reach college students about health issues. First of all, I realized that my thoughts immediately went to health education and health promotion1 rather than personal clinical information. Secondly, four thoughts came very [...]
Social norms marketing campaigns are often designed to reach an entire “population”: all the students in a college or school, all the members of a community, all the workers in a company. This is an efficient and effective way to address common misperceptions and begin a cultural change in regards to a health or risk [...]
What makes an intervention a "social norms intervention"? [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KuMY2lBykk&feature=player_profilepage] This Weight Watchers commercial is a good example of social norms marketing, because it uses most of the following inter-related elements: Working with current, accurate and relevant data about the reality and perceptions of your intended audience; Following a social marketing development process that includes members [...]
How does survey format affect college students' willingness to answer sensitive questions? Kays, K., Gathercoal, K., & Buhrow, W. (2012). Does survey format influence self-disclosure on sensitive question items?. Computers in Human Behavior, 28(1), 251-256. This study compared web-based versus paper-based survey of the National College Health Assessment (NCHA). A sample of college students rated each [...]
Heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems are reduced through BASICS program A new randomized controlled trial has found that undergraduate heavy drinkers, whether mandated or volunteer to participate in the BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) program, have fewer drinks weekly and fewer alcohol-related problems, compared to a control group. Even 12 months after the intervention, [...]
This week’s CDC Vital Signs reports that alcohol poisoning kills around 6 people every day in the U.S. Alcohol poisoning, usually resulting from high-intensity binge drinking, can shut down parts of the brain that control breathing and other vital body functions. The report points out that most of these deaths are in white men, age [...]
