Empowering or Patronizing?
One of the underlying principles of social norms marketing is expressed by PIE: messages should be Positive, Inclusive and Empowering. A study of social marketing to “…minimise the harm from alcohol consumption” suggests that many social marketing approaches may be patronizing rather than empowering. What messages does social marketing advertising send? A content analysis of advertisements aiming to […]
Is the Internet an Effective Intervention Tool?
This systematic review, published in Alcohol and Alcoholism, suggests that the internet is more effective than print-based interventions but less effective than face-to-face interventions for binge drinking among college students. The title links to the full article. The Use of the Internet for Prevention of Binge Drinking Among the College Population: A Systematic Review of […]
College Students Norms Regarding Marijuana
Another presentation at the 2015 annual APHA meeting in Chicago in early November: Background: Marijuana use has increased among college students over the past decade. Of particular concern are students’ perceived social norms that encourage its use. The study examines trends in individual characteristics, perceived peer behavior, perceived risk, campus environment, and campus policies related […]
College Students Who Use Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drinks
This research is currently only available on-line; we will update the citation when it is published in the print journal. Abstract: Objective: To examine characteristics of alcohol mixed with energy drink (AmED) use in a sample of college students. Participants: College students (N =614, 53% female) in their second year of college participated during the fall of […]
Online Normative Feedback Regarding Gambling
From the social norms research group at the University of Houston, a publication demonstrating the efficacy of a brief online intervention with at-risk gambling college students. Abstract: Objective: Social influences on gambling among adolescents and adults have been well documented and may be particularly evident among college students, who have higher rates of problem and […]
“Social Norms Nudging”
An interesting study on the most effective way to present normative information: Abstract: People’s evaluations in the domain of healthy eating are at least partly determined by the choice context. We systematically test reference level and rank-based models of relative comparisons against each other and explore their application to social norms nudging, an intervention that aims […]
Reaching Community College Students with An Online Intervention
From a study published online in the journal, Addiction Research and Theory: Abstract: Problems associated with alcohol use are well-documented among traditional 4-year college students, but less is known about community college students’ alcohol use. The few published articles that have investigated alcohol consumption among community college students suggest that risky alcohol consumption is a […]
Perceived Peer Norms Related to Binge Drinking for Hispanic Youth
Here’s a summary of an interesting presentation slated for November 1, 2015, at the 143rd annual meeting of the American Public Health Association in Chicago: Background: Hispanic adolescents are at increased risk for alcohol use and binge drinking. Research is needed to more thoroughly understand the variables involved with such high rates of alcohol use. The present […]
CDC’s Health Communication Science Digest: May Issue
The May issue of Health Communication Science Digest (HCSD or Digest) is now available at http://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/ScienceDigest/index.html This month in the Digest several authors report on health literacy initiatives (Duren-Winfield, et al.; Meppelink & Bol; Nouri & Rudd; Yamashita & Kunkel). Health communication campaigns and/or interventions, some yielding evidence of behavior change, are also detailed (Knowlden, et al.; Schwinn, et […]
Wordle, wordle on the wall…
Our colleagues at “The Well” at Virginia Commonwealth University recently found an interesting way to capture students’ opinion of the Stall Seat Journals (SSJ) that are a core part of the social norms intervention program there: Linda Hancock, PhD, CFNP, RN, Director of the Well, describes what she did: “I just gave out 3×5 cards […]