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Does changing social influence engender changes in alcohol intake? A meta-analysis
Prestwich, A. Kellar, Ian Conner, M. Lawton, R. Turgut, L.
Prestwich, A.
Kellar, Ian
Conner, M.
Lawton, R.
Turgut, L.
Publication Date
2016-10
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©American Psychological Association, 2016. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. Please do not copy or cite without author's permission. The final article is available, upon publication, at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000112.
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openAccess
Accepted for publication
22/03/2016
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Abstract
Objective: Past research has suggested that social influences on drinking can be manipulated with
subsequent reductions in alcohol intake. However, the experimental evidence for this and the best
strategies to positively change these social influences have not been meta-analyzed. This research
addressed these gaps.
Method: Randomized controlled trials testing social influence-based interventions on adults’ drinking
were systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed. The behavior change techniques used in each study
were coded and the effect sizes showing the impact of each intervention on (a) social influence and (b)
alcohol intake were calculated. Meta-regressions identified the association between these effect sizes, as
well as the effect of specific behavior change techniques on social influences.
Results: Forty-one studies comprising 17445 participants were included. Changes in social influences
were significantly associated with changes in alcohol intake. However, even moderate-to-large changes
in social influences corresponded with only a small change in drinking behavior and changing social
influences did not reduce alcohol-related problems. Providing normative information about others’
behavior and experiences was the most effective technique to change social influences.
Conclusions: Social influences and normative beliefs can be changed in drinkers, particularly by
providing normative information about how much others’ drink. However, even generating large
changes in these constructs are likely to engender only small changes in alcohol intake.
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Accepted manuscript
Citation
Prestwich A, Kellar I, Conner M et al (2016) Does changing social influence engender changes in alcohol intake? a meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 84(10): 845-860.
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Article