Final Report for East Carolina University
2008-2009
Overview of FindingsDuring the 2008-2009 academic year, 3,442 students completed the College
Alc pretest survey, 4,555 completed all four lessons of the College Alc program,
and 2,494 completed the posttest survey.
The natural progression for drinking behaviors, alcohol‐related attitudes,
norms, knowledge, and consequences is for these factors to increase or reflect
greater risk across time, particularly across the freshman year. Any movements
toward lower risk, or lack of movement, are seen as positive indicators of effective
prevention efforts.
Significant reductions in important targeted mediators (change agents) were
seen for social norms and positive alcohol expectancies. Significant gains in
negative alcohol expectancies, alcohol-related attitudes, intentions to use harm
prevention strategies, harm prevention self-efficacy (confidence to intervene to
prevent harm) and alcohol-related knowledge were also observed over the two
survey occasions.
Overview of Findings, continued.
Students at East Carolina University had very positive impressions of the
College Alc experience. Over 92 percent stated they benefited from taking College
Alc. Ninety-three percent felt better prepared to respond to alcohol-related
consequences such as alcohol poisoning. Over 90 percent said they thought
more about how to avoid alcohol-related problems, and 88 percent reported that
they were more likely to intervene with a friend who is getting in trouble with
alcohol.
Due to the short period between pretest and posttest occasions, the primary
behavioral item assessed from pretest to posttest was number of drinks per
occasion. As compared to pretest, after taking College Alc students were more
likely to report no drinking (25% versus 11%), and a greater percentage reported
consuming 4 or fewer drinks per occasion (73% versus 60%).
Definitions of Key Strategies (Primary Program Mediators)
Social Norms: standards for behavior –our perceptions of how most people, especially people we respect, behave.
Alcohol-related Attitudes: positive and negative views of the importance of alcohol and acceptance of heavy drinking
Alcohol Expectancies: the effects (positive and negative) people believe are likely to happen when alcohol is consumed.
Behavior Tracking: documenting personal alcohol consumption and receiving nonjudgmental feedback relative to others’ use and negative consequences.
Commitment: explore values and personal limits related to alcohol use and the prevention of harm among self and others.
2008-2009 Sample Summary• Full (pretest) sample: 3,442 students• 40% male, 60% female• Age: 95% of sample was 18 or 19 years old• Ethnic breakdown:
– White: 79% (2,634)
– American Indian: .6% (21)
– Hispanic: 2.5% (82)
– Asian/Pacific Islander: 2% (70)
– Black: 13% (425)
– Other: 2.7% (88)
Social Norms, Attitudes, and Expectancies
*Lower is better. p < .001
*Outcomes are scaled differently. Comparisons cannot be made across outcomes.
Harm Prevention and Knowledge
8-item scale, percent correct, p < .001
4-item scale (Ex: I am confident in my ability to do the right thing if I suspect that a friend has alcohol poisoning.) p < .001
14-item scale (Ex: Know and stay within personal drinking limit) p < .001
On average, how many drinks do you consume per occasion?
Number of drinks per occasion was significantly reduced from a scale score of 3.23 to 3.11 (where 3 = 3-4 drinks per occasion and 4 = 5-6 drinks per occasion), p < .001.
Student Impressions of College Alc
• 92% stated they benefited from taking
College Alc.
Since taking College Alc…
• 93% felt better prepared to respond to an alcohol
emergency (e.g., alcohol poisoning)
• 90% agreed that they thought more about
how to avoid alcohol-related problems.
• 88% were more likely to intervene with a
friend who is getting in trouble with alcohol.
For more information contact:
Melodie Fearnow-Kenney, PhD
Prevention Strategies, LLC
(804) 746-3607
David L. Wyrick, PhD
UNCG/PreventionStrategies, LLC
(336) 334-4501
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