Process variables predicting changes in adolescent alcohol consumption and mental health symptoms following personality-targeted interventions
Affiliation:
1. Centre de recherche du CHU Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal, 3175 Chemin de la Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Québec H3T 1C5, Canada;2. McGill University, Department of Psychology, Stewart Biology Building, 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Québec H3A 1B1, Canada;3. Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, 3175 Chemin de la Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Québec H3T 1C5, Canada;4. National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, Addiction Sciences Building, 4 Windsor Walk, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8BB, United Kingdom;1. Group of Evaluation of Health Determinants and Health Policies, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain;2. Tobacco Control Unit, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Institut Català d''Oncologia, L''Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain;3. Cancer Prevention and Control Group, Institut d''Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L''Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain;4. Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;5. Catalan Network of Smoke-free Hospitals, L''Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain;6. Addictions Unit, Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;7. Medicine and Health Sciences School, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain;1. University of Houston, Department of Psychology, Heyne Building, Suite 104, 77204 Houston, TX, USA;2. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Behavioral Science, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, 77030 Houston, TX, USA;3. Smoking and Addictive Disorders Unit, University of Santiago de Compostela, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Campus Vida, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;4. Stony Brook University, Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook, NY, USA;5. Stony Brook University, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, USA;1. Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction at Zurich University, Konradstrasse 32, 8031 Zurich, Switzerland;2. Institute of Technology Management, University of St. Gallen, Dufourstrasse 40a, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland;3. Chair of Information Management, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland;4. Energy Efficient Systems Group, University of Bamberg, An der Weberei 5, 96047 Bamberg, Germany;1. Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia;2. School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia;3. Discipline of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia;4. Social Marketing @ Griffith, Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia;5. Department of Marketing, Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia;6. Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia;7. Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
Abstract:
ObjectiveThis study aims to identify key process variables that are associated with changes in alcohol consumption and mental health symptoms over 12 months following personality-targeted interventions in youth.Method154 high-risk youth (aged 12–13 years) in 7 Montreal high schools were identified using the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale and participated in personality-matched interventions. Preliminary process variables were identified using a combination of psychotherapy process variables and youth-generated (qualitative) feedback immediately post-intervention.ResultsLearning, skill development and a positive group experience were key to positive behavioural change. Youth-generated feedback independently accounted for 12–25% of the variance in the change in alcohol use and mental health symptoms over 12 months. Changes in cognitive distortions and self-esteem accounted for somewhat less of the variance in alcohol use (0–9%), but a moderate-to-large portion of the variance in changes in mental health symptoms (up to 44%).ConclusionsThe study findings highlight candidate process variables relevant to future implementations of this program that might inform change processes relevant to brief interventions with youth more generally. This study suggests that youth experiences can indicate proximal measures of program efficacy, and has implications for the dissemination of this brief intervention program.Clinical Trial registered on www.ClinicalTrials.gov, “Does Delaying Adolescent Substance Use Lead to Improved Cognitive Function and Reduce Risk for Addiction”, study NCT01655615.
