High-risk alcohol consumption can result in a variety of negative consequences including injury or even death to oneself and others. Risky alcohol consumption is a major concern for many college campuses with around 40% of students reporting heavy drinking within the past 2 weeks. This has led many researchers to investigate potential protective behavioral strategies to keep students safe while drinking. Motivational interviewing is one potential behavioral strategy that works by reinforcing a person’s own rationale for behavior change. The Motivational Interviewing for Risky Social Drinking (MI-RSD) is one motivational interviewing tool that was established to address risky drinking behaviors in students with social anxiety. This study examines the potential impact of a motivational interviewing intervention on heavy drinking in college students with co-occurring social anxiety symptoms.  

The study’s sample consisted of 42 undergraduate students from a university in Southwestern United States. Participants completed an online baseline survey that assessed drinking during social situations and protective behavioral strategies (PBS). Students then participated in two MI-RDS sessions and completed a 1-month follow-up assessment. Alcohol consumption was assessed using the drinking context scale which measures drinking probability during emotional, situational, and social situations. Students were also asked to indicate their frequency of use of various PBS. The MI-RDS sessions consisted of role-play, practice session, guided readings, and experiential exercises. Data was analyzed using paired samples t-tests and within-subject mediation analysis to examine for changes in PBS and drinking behavior following the motivational interviewing session. 

Results of the data analysis showed that students reported less heavy alcohol consumption in social settings and more use of PBS at 1-month follow-up compared to baseline. Heavy drinking in personal-intimate setting did not significantly change between baseline and 1-month follow-up. The within-subject mediation analysis indicated that the increase in PBS utilization partially contributed to the reduction in heavy alcohol consumption during social situations. 

Takeaway: Motivational interviewing interventions may have a potential impact on heavy alcohol consumption in college students with social anxiety.  

Villarosa-Hurlocker, M.C., Kosorukov, F.D., Graham, J., Hatch, M. The effects of protective behavioral strategies on heavy drinking following a pure motivational interviewing intervention. Journal of Substance Use. 2022: 1-6. doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2022.2047806