Moderators of outcome in a technology-based intervention to prevent and reduce problem drinking among adolescents. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Paz Castro, Raquel; Haug, Severin; Kowatsch, Tobias; Filler, Andreas; Schaub, Michael P.
• Is Part Of: Addictive behaviors. Volume 72(2017)
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 71
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Alcohol -- Smoking -- Binge drinking -- Mobile phone -- Text messaging -- Adolescents; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drug addiction -- Periodicals; Nicotine addiction -- Periodicals; Smoking -- Periodicals; Gambling -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.29
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.03.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4603

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Moderators of outcome are investigated in a technology-based intervention that has been shown to effectively reduce binge drinking among adolescents. Methods: Secondary data analyses were performed on socio-demographic, health-related, and socio-cognitive moderators of intervention efficacy. Students attending 80 vocational and upper secondary school classes with different levels of alcohol use were randomized to either a web- and text messaging-based intervention ( n = 547) or an assessment-only control group ( n = 494). Moderators of outcome were analysed across the entire sample, and separately for lower-risk and higher-risk drinkers. Results: Based on an intention-to-treat analysis, we identified smoking status and educational level to moderate the intervention effectiveness across the total sample and in the lower-risk subsample, with a greater reduction in binge-drinking prevalence in smokers versus non-smokers, and in more highly-educated versus less-educated adolescents. Conclusions: Technology-based interventions targeting heavy drinking might be especially effective in smokers and highly-educated adolescents. Interventions can prevent low-risk drinkers that smoke from developing a problematic alcohol use. Highlights: Most relevant moderators of technology-based alcohol interventions among adolescents are unknown. Multiple moderators of a technology-based alcohol intervention were tested. Smoking status and educational level were identified to moderate intervention effectiveness. Technology-based alcohol interventions should be delivered to adolescents who are highly-educated or smoke – also if they belong to the group of lower-risk drinkers.