Criterion Validity of Protective Behavioral Strategies for Alcohol Consumption among College Students: Comparison across Two Measures

Abstract

Background: Protective behavioral strategies (PBS), or behaviors used to reduce harm associated with alcohol use, are often associated with lower levels of alcohol consumption, lower engagement in high-risk drinking behaviors, and fewer alcohol-related consequences. Although the majority of studies have found significant associations between higher PBS use and lower consumption or consequences, some studies have found nonsignificant or even positive associations. One explanatory hypothesis is that the mixed findings are due to differential content in PBS measures. Objectives: The current study examined the criterion validity of two widely-used PBS measures, the PBSS and the SQ. In a multi-institution online study assessing alcohol outcomes, college drinkers were randomly assigned to complete one PBS measure. Both measures had the same response options to standardize assessment and focus on content. Results: Findings suggest both measures of PBS are consistently predictive of alcohol outcomes among college drinkers, across multiple subpopulations (i.e., strength of association was not moderated by sex, race, or drinking level). Conclusions/Importance: Some PBS subscales were more impactful than others, suggesting researchers may want to choose which PBS scale to use based on outcomes of interest, or after determining if alternatives to drinking is an important facet of PBS for the research questions being examined. Moreover, the differential findings for subscales suggest that prevention and intervention programs incorporating PBS should focus on strategies that avoid high-risk scenarios (e.g., avoiding shots or drinking games), rather than general strategies of self-pacing.

Keywords:

• Protective behavioral strategies
• alcohol use
• college drinkers
• alcohol-related consequences
• criterion validity

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, ALB, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

Abby L. Braitman is supported by a career award from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K01-AA023849; PI: Braitman). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.