The motivational context for mandated alcohol interventions for college students by gender and family history

ObjectiveAlcohol interventions to reduce drinking for college students sanctioned for alcohol use reduce drinking and/or problems. However, intrinsic motivation to change cannot be assumed if students are mandated to receive interventions. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of both gender and family history on motivational variables prior to a mandated intervention.MethodParticipants were 677 students (63% male) who violated residence hall alcohol policy and were mandated to participate in an alcohol abuse prevention intervention. During a baseline assessment, students described their drinking patterns and completed an assessment of biological risk for alcohol problems; they also reported attitudes regarding the sanction event, perceived peer norms regarding sanctions, resistance to influences on their alcohol use, motivation to change alcohol use, and decisional balance regarding current alcohol use.ResultsMany gender differences emerged on the motivational variables suggestive of more motivation to change among female students; family history was related only to drinking patterns and decisional balance.ConclusionsIf motivational factors influence receptivity and response to mandated interventions, then these finding suggest that greater attention to enhancing motivation to change in male students is warranted.