Incentives and delivery modality as moderators of a web-based personalized normative feedback intervention for heavy-drinking college students.

Objective: This research evaluates how two methodological factors (delivery modality and incentives) influence the efficacy of a brief computer-delivered personalized normative feedback (PNF) intervention for heavy-drinking college students. Empirical studies have not yet identified whether computer-delivered interventions are more effective when administered in the lab versus remotely within the same design. Additionally, intervention trials typically provide participants with some kind of incentive (e.g., monetary compensation). We expected PNF to result in reduced alcohol consumption and consequences compared to the control (Hypothesis 1) and that this would be stronger among in-lab participants compared to remote (Hypothesis 2a) and among those receiving no incentive compared to those who received an incentive (Hypothesis 2b). We also explored differences by sex.

Method: Heavy-drinking college students (N = 498; 57% female; M_age = 21.7; 47% Caucasian; 33% Latinx) participated in a 2 (intervention: PNF vs. attention control) × 2 (delivery: in-lab vs. remote) × 2 (compensation: $0 vs. $30) design with 3- and 6-month follow-up assessments occurring remotely. Primary outcomes included alcohol consumption (average weekly drinks, past-month drinks, and past-month peak drinks) and related consequences (Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire and Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index).

Results: Results from multilevel negative binomial models supported the efficacy of PNF for monthly drinking and one index of consequences (Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire). PNF was more effective for reducing consumption when completed in-lab, but only for male participants. PNF was more effective when participants were not paid, but only for one of five outcomes (past-month drinks).

Conclusions: Future applications of interventions for college students should carefully weigh the advantages of remote implementation over the possible loss in efficacy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).