Foxcroft, David and Moreira, Maria Teresa and Almeida Santimano, Nerissa ML and Smith, Lesley A (2015) Social norms information for alcohol misuse in university and college students. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 12, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006748.pub4.
External website: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/enhanced/doi/10.100...
Key findings
Over the longer-term, after four or more months of follow-up, there was only a small effect of social norms information on binge drinking, drinking quantity, and peak BAC. For these outcomes, effects were not any different across the different delivery modes.Only small effects were found for web feedback and individual face-to-face feedback on frequency of alcohol consumed. Only a small effect of individual face-to-face feedback on alcohol related problems, but no effects were found for mailed or web feedback. Similarly, no effects were found for group face-to-face feedback or for marketing campaigns on frequency of alcohol consumed and typical BAC.
Our reading of these results is that, although we found some significant effects of social norms information, the strength of the effects over the longer-term is very small and therefore this information is unlikely to provide any advantage in practice.
B Substances > Alcohol
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Prevention approach > Prevention through information and education
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Health related issues > Health information and education
L Social psychology and related concepts > Interpersonal interaction and group dynamics > Peer relations / social networks > Level of substance use among peers
N Communication, information and education > Information use and impact
N Communication, information and education > Educational environment / institution (school / college / university) > Student behaviour
T Demographic characteristics > Undergraduate or graduate college student
VA Geographic area > International
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