Publication Date

2025

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Matt Woodward, Jenni Teeters, Andrew Mienaltowski

Degree Program

Department of Psychological Sciences

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

Brief interventions (BIs) aim to reduce risky alcohol use but show limited effectiveness for interpersonal trauma (IPT) survivors, who may use alcohol to cope with trauma-related issues. BIs typically do not target coping-related motivations or include effective emotion regulation strategies, which may improve outcomes for at-risk groups like IPT survivors. Additionally, digital interventions often struggle with low engagement. This study examined a trauma-informed and peer-supported BI to reduce coping-related drinking motives in heavy drinking young adults and assess its effectiveness compared to a standard BI and assessment only condition. Participants (N=133, 79.2% Female, 91.2% White, M age=19.77) with a lifetime history of IPT exposure and past month heavy alcohol use were recruited via an online study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the trauma-informed and peersupported BI (N=49), standard BI (N=56), or assessment-only (N=54). Participants reported their general levels of the use of substances to cope, as well as coping motivated by anxiety and depression at baseline and a 3-month follow-up. The trauma-informed and peer-supported BI group demonstrated a significant reduction in general substance-related coping motives but not anxiety or depression-related coping. The standard BI showed significant reductions in substance-related coping motives for anxiety and depression. No significant changes were found among the assessment-only condition. However, there were no significant differences in the rate of change in substance-related coping across the three conditions. Although data were preliminary, findings indicate that the inclusion of peer coaches and evidence-based coping strategies did not enhance the effectiveness of a digital BI on substance-related coping motives. The findings suggest that trauma-informed BIs may need further refinement to address specific emotional and psychological coping needs of IPT survivors, particularly around substance-related anxiety and depression coping motives.

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology | Community Psychology | Counseling Psychology | Health Psychology | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

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