Preliminary Effects of a Guided Self-Change Intervention on Perceived Risk and Self-Efficacy in University Students Engaging in Cannabis or Alcohol Misuse

Robbert Langwerden; Staci  Morris; Sofia Fernandez; María  Contreras-Pérez; Michelle Hospital; Eric Wagner

Authors

Robbert J Langwerden 1Community Based Research Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; 2Research Center in a Minority Institution, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; 3School of Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2407-9473
Staci Leon Morris 1Community Based Research Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; 2Research Center in a Minority Institution, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; 3School of Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; https://orcid/org/0000-0003-3271-6188
Sofia B Fernandez 2Research Center in a Minority Institution, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; 3School of Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6243-9463
María Eugenia Contreras-Pérez 1Community Based Research Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; 2Research Center in a Minority Institution, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; 3School of Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2249-3657
Michelle M. Hospital 1Community Based Research Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; 2Research Center in a Minority Institution, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; 4Department of Biostatistics, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9941-9607
Eric F. Wagner 1Community Based Research Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; 2Research Center in a Minority Institution, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; 3School of Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9222-085X

Abstract

Guided Self-Change (GSC) is a Motivational Interviewing (MI)-based early intervention program, infused with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), for individuals with substance use problems. In this study, we implemented a 4-session GSC program with the innovative addition of mindfulness-based techniques at a minority-serving institution to reduce substance use and negative consequences among self-referred university students. We investigated processes that may be associated with behavior change, including perceived risk of use and self-efficacy ratings among university students who reported their primary substance of choice was cannabis (n = 18) or alcohol (n = 18). The sample of 36 participants (M_age = 24.4, SD_age = 5, range 18-37) mostly identified as female (58.3%), then male (41.7%); 52.8% identified as Hispanic/Latine, 22.2% as Black or African American, and 19.5% as a sexual minority. Among cannabis primary using students, results indicated that the perceived risk of weekly cannabis use, confidence to change, and readiness to change showed statistically significant increases from pre- to post-assessment. Among alcohol primary using students, confidence to change and readiness to change showed statistically significant increases from pre- to post-assessments. All results yielded large effect sizes, which may be inflated due to the small sample size. Findings suggest that over the course of participation in a brief, 4-session targeted GSC program, there were significant increases in perceived risk and self-efficacy among minority university students who engage in primary cannabis or primary alcohol use.