Narrative Writing to Promote Healthy Decisions About Alcohol During the Transition Out of College

Summary

The purpose of the proposed research is to evaluate (1) whether a future possible self task (FPST) can lead to changes drinking identity (DI; how much one associates one's self with drinking) and (2) whether the FPST and changes in drinking identity also change indicators of alcohol misuse . This study focuses on individuals who are graduating from college, which is a time of transition and identity change. If such changes can be demonstrated, DI may be a mechanism for alcohol misuse and the FPST may be an additional, novel intervention strategy to reduce alcohol misuse during the post-college transition.

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the future possible self task (FPST) in individuals who are about to graduate from college.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Can the FPST change drinking identity (a risk factor for alcohol misuse)? Can the FPST reduce risks for alcohol misuse? Participants will complete the FPST, a task that involves writing for 20 minutes, and will answer a series of questionnaires and computer-based word categorization tasks. Participants will be followed for a year after completing the FPST.

Researchers will compare different versions of the FPST and different doses (one writing sessions vs. 3 writing sessions) to see which are more effective for changing drinking identity and reducing risks for alcohol misuse.

Conditions

• Alcohol Use, Unspecified

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Most hoped for future self

Participants in this condition complete a version of the future possible self task in which they think and write about their most hoped for future self for 20 minutes.

BEHAVIORAL

Most feared future self

Participants in this condition complete a version of the future possible self task in which they think and write about their most feared future self for 20 minutes.

BEHAVIORAL

Balanced future self

Participants in this condition complete a version of the future possible self task in which they think and write about their most hoped for and feared future self for 20 minutes.

BEHAVIORAL

Control (trip to zoo)

Participants in this condition think and write about a future trip to the zoo for 20 minutes

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Washington

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Kristen Lindgren, PhD · University of Washington

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-02-10

Primary Completion

2028-10-31

Completion

2028-10-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations