Drinking Outcome Expectancies and Normative Perceptions of Students Engaged in University Sport in England

This study examined whether students engaged in university sport have different drinking outcome expectancies and normative beliefs than students who are not engaged in university sport. A cross-sectional survey of university students in England in 2008–2009 was undertaken. A questionnaire battery, including the Drinking Expectancies Questionnaire (DEQ) and a measure of normative beliefs, was completed by 770 students from seven universities across England. Responses from 638 students who were not abstaining from alcohol were analyzed. Students engaged in university sport have significantly higher drinking expectancies of assertion compared with students not engaged in university sport. Moreover, students engaged in university sport consistently report higher personal alcohol consumption and higher perceptions of consumption in those around them than students not engaged in university sport. Both assertion and the perception that students around them drink heavily provide only a partial explanation for why students engaged in university sport drink more than those not engaged in university sport. Further research is required to identify the reasons for heavy drinking among students involved in university sport in England.

Client Language During Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Alcohol Use Outcome

Background: The exact link between the process engaged in during Motivational Interviewing based interventions, such as Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), and outcome is yet to be fully understood. Aims: This preliminary study examined Client Language during MET and outcome. Method: A modified Motivational Interviewing Skills Code Version 2.0 was used to code 106 audiotaped MET sessions from 28 participants who received 3–4 sessions of MET within the context of a randomized controlled trial for mild-moderate alcohol dependence. Client Language was analyzed within sessions (categorized into Early, Mid, or End Intervals) and across sessions, and in relation to six month drinking outcome (drinking within/over national drinking guidelines, i.e. Remitted/Unremitted Drinkers). Results: Unremitted Drinkers uttered a significantly higher frequency of Sustain Talk, lower Ability Language strength (over all MET and during End Intervals), and lower Commitment Language strength (during Session 2 and 4, and change over MET). Conclusions: Notwithstanding limitations, this exploratory study was unique in examining the strength of Client Language within and across sessions. It produced potentially valuable findings that warrant further investigation including supporting the clinical benefit of monitoring Client Language to predict outcome.