Testing Brief Personalized Feedback Integrating EMA Alcohol Cue Information

Development and Preliminary Examination of Two Brief Personalized Feedback Interventions Focused on Lab-based and EMA Alcohol Cues to Reduce Hazardous Young Adult Alcohol Use

This study aims to develop a brief intervention that incorporates ecological momentary assessments (EMAs; i.e., four brief surveys per day for 17 days) to create personalized feedback targeting high-risk alcohol use among young adult drinkers. The intervention mainly focuses on providing feedback on individuals' drinking desire and how it varies as a function of a number of real-world factors. Other psycho-educational alcohol-related content is also provided in the intervention including strategies for decreasing exposure to cues that increase drinking desires and how to cope with increased desire to drink. This brief intervention will be used in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing young adults who receive the intervention with those who only complete identical assessments.

The purpose of this study is to develop and test a brief intervention that provides personalized feedback to young adults using participants' own event-level, real-world experiences. The aim of the intervention is to increase young adults' awareness of their desire to drink as it varies as a function of a number of real-world factors including alcohol cues, social context, physical context, anticipation of later drinking, mood, and time of day. The intervention also aims to equip young adults with strategies for reducing exposure to factors that increase their desire to drink, how to cope with an increased desire to drink, and how to reduce potential harms from drinking.

This brief personalized feedback intervention is used in a randomized controlled trial comparing young adults who receive the intervention with those who complete the EMAs but do not receive any personalized feedback. Assessments include an eligibility survey, baseline assessment, 17 days of EMAs (4x/day), and follow-up assessments occurring 2-weeks and 3-months post-intervention. The 2-week and 3-month follow-ups occurred 2-weeks and 3-months, respectively, from Day 17 of the EMA period, because the intervention was delivered on Day 17. The intervention will be examined for its feasibility, acceptability, and its effects in reducing alcohol-related outcomes at the follow-up assessments.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1) Between ages 18-24, 2) Lives in Washington state, 3) Reports drinking at least two days per week in the last six months, 4) Reports at least one heavy drinking episode (4+/5+ drinks for women/men) in the past month, 5) Open to changing drinking behavior, 6) Schedule allows for participation in study with daily surveys, 7) Able to attend Zoom training session, 8) Must have cellphone for daily surveys.

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1) Actively seeking treatment for alcohol use, 2) Currently participating in another study in our research center regarding young adult drinking behavior.