Date of Award

Spring 2015

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Major

Psychology

First Advisor

Laura Holt

Abstract

College students are at increased risk for engaging in non-medical prescription stimulant use (NMPSU; Looby et al., 2014). Despite widespread NMPSU on college campuses, however, no research has examined the efficacy of group-based motivational enhancement intervention targeting NMPSU. Accordingly, we recruited 31 Trinity College students who reported a history of NMPSU, or who demonstrated two or more risk factors for NMPSU, with the intent to reduce use (or initiation of use), positive expectations of NMPSU, and to increase negative expectancies and study self-efficacy. Students were randomized into one of two conditions: (1) a group-based motivational enhancement intervention, which involved discussing NMPSU, study strategies, and pros/cons of NMPSU, or (2) a control group. We found limited support for our hypotheses; that is, NMPS users in the intervention group did not report a reduction in use compared to NMPS users in the control group, nor did they report a greater readiness to change behavior. As hypothesized, we found a trend for positive expectancies to decline in the treatment group, but no significant change in negative expectancies. Contrary to the last hypothesis, study self-efficacy didn’t improve for the treatment group. Implications for future interventions targeting NMPSU are discussed.

Comments

Senior thesis completed at Trinity College for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

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