Intervention defensiveness as a moderator of drinking outcome among heavy-drinking mandated college students

The efficacy of the Alcohol Skills Training Program (ASTP; Miller, et al., 2000) was evaluated in 204 heavy-drinking college students randomly assigned to either ASTP (n = 119) or an assessment-only control (n = 85) condition. The volunteer ASTP sample (n = 119) was also compared to a sample of students mandated to ASTP following a first-time sanction (n = 90). At baseline, mandated students reported lower levels of peak drinking, negative consequences, readiness to change and higher defensiveness than voluntary students. However, the voluntary sample showed reductions in problem drinking indicators over time such that there were no differences from mandated students at follow-up. There were no outcome differences between volunteers assigned to ASTP versus assessment-only. A new measure of defensiveness was evaluated and had a significant moderating effect on ASTP outcome for peak drinking consumed on a peak occasion at follow-up among mandated students.

Research HighlightsThe Alcohol Skills Training Program was evaluated in heavy-drinking college students. ► Students mandated to an ASTP were compared with a voluntary ASTP and assessment-only controls. ► Voluntary students showed reductions in problem drinking indicators over time such that there were no differences from mandated students at follow-up. ► A new measure of defensiveness had a significant moderating effect on ASTP outcome for peak drinking consumed on a peak occasion at follow-up among mandated students.