RHP&EO is the electronic journal of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education

Development And Evaluation Of A Theory-Based Programme Approach To Primary Alcohol Prevention Among Seventh Graders

Wilhelmsen, Britt Unni and Jon Christian Laberg

A controlled study investigated cognitive predictors of adolescent alcohol use and the effectiveness of a cognitive-social prevention programme. Approximately 1000 7th graders in 12 schools in Bergen, Norway, participated in the baseline survey, the 10-week intervention programme, and the follow-up survey measuring changes in cognitions and behaviour. Schools were allocated to a heavy or a light role specified version of the programme, or a non-treated control condition. In study I, attitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy expectations, were significant predictors of adolescents' intentions to abstain from alcohol use in a specified context (the next party). Study 1I showed that boys with stronger alcohol outcome expectancies had lower intentions to abstain than boys with lower expectancies, regardless of their previous alcohol use. Study 1II showed that outcome expectancies at baseline explained the decreases in intentions to abstain at follow-up. Study IV showed that compared to the light specified condition, the heavy specified condition yielded more student involvement and significant higher programme effectiveness. Study V showed that no students had started drinking during the intervention period and, in the heavy role-specified condition, 25% of students with initial alcohol experience had stopped experimenting at follow-up. It was concluded that, first, cognitive factors were strong predictors of alcohol use. Second, cognitive-social programmes may excert significant effects on alcohol use among adolescents. Third, heavy specified provider roles were significantly more effective than light specified roles.

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