Drinking Refusal Self-Efficacy: Impacts on Outcomes from a Multi-Site Early Intervention Trial

Abstract

This study examines relationships between drink refusal self-efficacy (DRSE) and outcomes in project options (PO), an adolescent alcohol use early intervention. 1171 US high school students (39.3% Hispanic, 59.3% girls) participated in PO, reporting their demographics, alcohol use, and drinking reduction efforts at baseline, 30 days, and 3 months later. Items from the Drug Taking Confidence Questionnaire for Adolescents (DTCQ-A) assessed DRSE. DRSE corresponded negatively with drinking at 30 days and, among drinkers, predicted lesser use reduction attempts at 30 days and 3 months. Results indicate that, unlike in treatment settings, DRSE may not correspond to improved early intervention outcomes.

Keywords:

• adolescence
• alcohol
• early intervention
• self-efficacy

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [R01AA012171; PI: S. Brown].