The Impact of Skill Utilization on Alcohol Use Outcomes Following Completion of a Brief Web-Based Alcohol Intervention.
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| Title: | The Impact of Skill Utilization on Alcohol Use Outcomes Following Completion of a Brief Web-Based Alcohol Intervention. |
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| Authors: | Patton, Emily E. (AUTHOR), Hammett, Julia F. (AUTHOR), Jaffe, Anna E. (AUTHOR), Kaysen, Debra (AUTHOR), Stappenbeck, Cynthia A. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Substance Use & Misuse. 2026, Vol. 61 Issue 4, p527-537. 11p. |
| Subjects: | Alcoholism treatment, Sex crimes, Research funding, Medical care, Statistical sampling, Multiple regression analysis, At-risk people, Questionnaires, Psychology of women, Internet, Treatment effectiveness, Randomized controlled trials, Descriptive statistics, Odds ratio, Alcohol drinking in college, Comparative studies, Data analysis software |
| Abstract: | Objective: This study examined the impact of skill utilization on alcohol use outcomes following a brief mobile-based intervention among heavy-drinking college women with sexual assault histories. Method: Participants were heavy drinking college women with sexual assault histories (N = 77) who were randomized as part of a larger study to complete a 14-d intervention that included modules focused on emotion regulation (ER) and alcohol reduction strategies. Alcohol outcomes were assessed immediately post-treatment and at 1- and 6-month follow-ups, measuring both weekly drinking and heavy episodic drinking. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models evaluated the relationship between both ER skills and alcohol reduction strategies utilization and alcohol outcomes over time. Results: Greater average utilization of alcohol reduction strategies was associated with a lower likelihood of exceeding the recommended weekly drinking limit across follow-ups. However, whereas greater average ER skill utilization was linked to reduced heavy drinking, within-person increases in ER skill utilization over time were paradoxically associated with a higher likelihood of heavy drinking at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: These findings suggest that skill utilization is a key factor driving intervention efficacy, with alcohol reduction strategies potentially offering consistent protection against heavy drinking over time. However, the complex relationship between ER skill usage and heavy drinking warrants further investigation. This study underscores the importance of examining both the short- and long-term effects of skill utilization to enhance mobile-based interventions aimed at reducing risky alcohol use among vulnerable populations. Skill utilization as a predictor of outcomes: Greater use of alcohol reduction strategies consistently predicted lower weekly drinking over time. Complex effects of emotion regulation (ER) skills: While increased ER skill use reduced heavy drinking on average, within-person increases in ER use were linked to higher heavy drinking at the 6-month follow-up. Long-term impact of intervention skills: Alcohol reduction strategies demonstrated sustained protective effects on risky drinking behaviors across post-treatment follow-ups. Mobile-based intervention effectiveness: This study highlights the efficacy of brief mobile-based interventions in reducing alcohol use among college women with sexual assault histories. Novel focus on skill dynamics: The study emphasizes the importance of investigating both average and within-person skill use patterns to better understand their roles in intervention outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Objective: This study examined the impact of skill utilization on alcohol use outcomes following a brief mobile-based intervention among heavy-drinking college women with sexual assault histories. Method: Participants were heavy drinking college women with sexual assault histories (N = 77) who were randomized as part of a larger study to complete a 14-d intervention that included modules focused on emotion regulation (ER) and alcohol reduction strategies. Alcohol outcomes were assessed immediately post-treatment and at 1- and 6-month follow-ups, measuring both weekly drinking and heavy episodic drinking. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models evaluated the relationship between both ER skills and alcohol reduction strategies utilization and alcohol outcomes over time. Results: Greater average utilization of alcohol reduction strategies was associated with a lower likelihood of exceeding the recommended weekly drinking limit across follow-ups. However, whereas greater average ER skill utilization was linked to reduced heavy drinking, within-person increases in ER skill utilization over time were paradoxically associated with a higher likelihood of heavy drinking at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: These findings suggest that skill utilization is a key factor driving intervention efficacy, with alcohol reduction strategies potentially offering consistent protection against heavy drinking over time. However, the complex relationship between ER skill usage and heavy drinking warrants further investigation. This study underscores the importance of examining both the short- and long-term effects of skill utilization to enhance mobile-based interventions aimed at reducing risky alcohol use among vulnerable populations. Skill utilization as a predictor of outcomes: Greater use of alcohol reduction strategies consistently predicted lower weekly drinking over time. Complex effects of emotion regulation (ER) skills: While increased ER skill use reduced heavy drinking on average, within-person increases in ER use were linked to higher heavy drinking at the 6-month follow-up. Long-term impact of intervention skills: Alcohol reduction strategies demonstrated sustained protective effects on risky drinking behaviors across post-treatment follow-ups. Mobile-based intervention effectiveness: This study highlights the efficacy of brief mobile-based interventions in reducing alcohol use among college women with sexual assault histories. Novel focus on skill dynamics: The study emphasizes the importance of investigating both average and within-person skill use patterns to better understand their roles in intervention outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 10826084 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/10826084.2025.2567449 |
