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Efficacy of a Brief Image-Based Multiple-Behavior Intervention for College Students

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Epidemiologic data indicate most adolescents and adults experience multiple, simultaneous risk behaviors.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of a brief image-based multiple-behavior intervention (MBI) for college students.

Methods

A total of 303 college students were randomly assigned to: (1) a brief MBI or (2) a standard care control, with a 3-month postintervention follow-up.

Results

Omnibus treatment by time multivariate analysis of variance interactions were significant for three of six behavior groupings, with improvements for college students receiving the brief MBI on alcohol consumption behaviors, F(6, 261) = 2.73, p = 0.01, marijuana-use behaviors, F(4, 278) = 3.18, p = 0.01, and health-related quality of life, F(5, 277) = 2.80, p = 0.02, but not cigarette use, exercise, and nutrition behaviors. Participants receiving the brief MBI also got more sleep, F(1, 281) = 9.49, p = 0.00, than those in the standard care control.

Conclusions

A brief image-based multiple-behavior intervention may be useful in influencing a number of critical health habits and health-related quality-of-life indicators of college students.

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Acknowledgements

This manuscript was supported in part by funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (grant #DA018872). We thank Dr. Fred Beck, MD, who made it possible to use the campus medical services to recruit students, and Drs. Pamela Chally, Ph.D., and Judy Perkin, Ph.D., who permitted us to implement the intervention in the Brooks College of Health. We also thank Elizabeth Breting, Heather Frost, and Heather Boggess for their assistance in implementing this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Chudley E. Werch Ph.D. & Hui Bian Ph.D.

  2. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Robert M. Weiler Ph.D., Dennis Thombs Ph.D., Steven B. Pokorny Ph.D. & I-Chan Huang Ph.D.

  3. University of North Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Michele J. Moore Ph.D.

  4. University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Carlo C. DiClemente Ph.D.

  5. Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Steven C. Ames Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Chudley E. Werch Ph.D.
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  2. Michele J. Moore Ph.D.
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  3. Hui Bian Ph.D.
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  4. Carlo C. DiClemente Ph.D.
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  5. Steven C. Ames Ph.D.
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  6. Robert M. Weiler Ph.D.
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  8. Steven B. Pokorny Ph.D.
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  9. I-Chan Huang Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Chudley E. Werch Ph.D..

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Werch, C.E., Moore, M.J., Bian, H. et al. Efficacy of a Brief Image-Based Multiple-Behavior Intervention for College Students. ann. behav. med. 36, 149–157 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-008-9055-6

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