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NCT Number: NCT06191861

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

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 highly school, 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-high school transition.

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

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.

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Alcohol Use, Unspecified Alcohol Drinking Behavior Drinking Behavior

Age range

17 year–19 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Houston

Houston, Texas, 77204, United States

About this study

This study will evaluate changes in drinking identity and changes in drinking during the transition out of high school in a sample of 528 soon-to-graduate or recently graduated high school seniors via the future possible self task (FPST). We will test whether an adapted version of the FPST can induce change in drinking identity and reduce risk of alcohol misuse. The study will have a 2 (write about future desired self in relation to drinking vs. no), x 2 (write about future feared self in relation to drinking vs. no) x 2 (write 1x only vs.1x per week for 3 weeks) design. Participants will be randomly assigned to a condition. The study will occur entirely online, with virtual baseline and intervention sessions hosted by a research assistant and with online surveys for the 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Participants, who report at least some alcohol consumption and some interest interest in changing or not increasing their drinking, will be recruited, in equal numbers, from two sites -- one at the University of Washington and one at the University of Houston. Participants will be recruited in two waves (264 each wave, with 132 from each site during each wave).

The study will test for changes in drinking identity (primary), in indicators of alcohol misuse (primary & secondary), and in associated risk factors (secondary; changes in self-efficacy, identification with future self, and craving at baseline, 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Senior in high school and expecting to graduate at the end of the academic year or individuals who recently (i.e., within the past three months) graduated high school or earned a GED
  • Between the ages of 17-19
  • Currently reside in WA State (UW Site) or State of Texas (UH Site)
  • Fluent in English
  • Willing to attend three weekly virtual laboratory sessions (hosted on Zoom)
  • Willing to provide contact information, including phone number (for text messages and reminders), email (reminders), and mailing address (payment)
  • Has consumed alcohol at least 1 time in last year
  • Reports at least some interest in NOT increasing one's drinking or at least some interest in reducing drinking

Exclusion criteria

  • N/A

Treatment and study plan

Most hoped for future self

Behavioral

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.

Most feared future self

Behavioral

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.

Control (trip to zoo)

Behavioral

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

Balanced future self

Behavioral

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Explicit drinking identity

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    This is will be evaluated by the Alcohol Self-Concept Scale. A mean score will be calculated. Scores range from -3 to +3. Higher scores indicate stronger alcohol self-concept

  2. Implicit drinking identity

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline,post-intervention, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    This is will be evaluated by the Drinking Identity Implicit Association Test (IAT). A summary score, called a D score, which is similar to a Cohen's d effect size, will be calculated. Scores range from -2 to +2; higher scores indicate stronger implicit drinking identity.

  3. Drinks per week

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    This is will be evaluated by the Daily Drinking Questionnaire (DDQ). It assesses drinks consumed each day of the week during a typical week during the last month. A sum of drinks over the course of the week will be calculated.

  4. Peak drinks per month

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    This is will be evaluated by the Quantity/Frequency Measure (Q/F). It includes an assessment of the number of drinks consumed when one drank the most during the last month.

  5. Typical drinks per occasion

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    This is will be evaluated by the Quantity/Frequency Measure (Q/F). It includes an assessment of the number of drinks consumed on a typical drinking occasion during the last month.

  6. Alcohol-related problems

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    This is will be evaluated by the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire.

    It assesses the consequences of drinking (happened yes or no) that occurred during the last month. A sum will be calculated. Higher scores indicate more experiencing more negative consequences from drinking. Scores range from 0 to 24

Secondary outcomes

  1. Risk of Alcohol Use Disorder

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline and at 12-month follow-up

    This will be evaluated by the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. A total score will be calculated. Scores range from 0 to 40.Higher scores indicate higher risk of having an alcohol use disorder

  2. Alcohol Craving - Momentary

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline and 2 weeks after baseline

    This will be evaluated by the Alcohol Urge Questionnaire. A mean score will be calculated. Scores range from 1 to 7; higher scores indicate stronger urges to drink right now.

  3. Alcohol Craving - Retrospective

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    This will be evaluated by the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS). The PACS evaluate alcohol craving over the last week. A total score will be calculated.Scores range from 0 to 30. Higher scores indicate stronger craving.

  4. Alcohol Expectancies

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    The Brief Comprehensive Effects of the Outcomes of Alcohol Questionnaire [BCEOA] will assess alcohol expectancies. Mean scores for the BCEOA subscales will be created. Scores range from 1 to 4. Higher scores indicate stronger expectancies about alcohol's effects.

  5. Drinking Motives

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    The drinking motives questionnaire will assess common motives for drinking. Mean scores for the subscales will be created. Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate stronger motives for drinking.

  6. Social Norms

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    The Drinking Norms Rating Form will assess descriptive norms for drinking. Total drinks per week that a typical same age/same gender person drinks per week will be calculated.

  7. Identification with Future Self

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    A future self continuity measure (single item) will assess the degree to which one's current and future selves are similar. Scores ranges from 1 to 7; higher scores indicate greater concordance between one's current and future selves.

  8. Readiness to Change

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    A single item readiness to change ruler will assess readiness to reduce one's drinking. Scores range from 0 to 6; higher scores indicate greater readiness to reduce one's drinking.

  9. Drinking Refusal Self-efficacy

    Time frame: Will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, 1-month follow up, 3-month follow up, 6 month-follow up, & 12-month follow up

    Ability to resist drinking will be assessed by the Drinking Refusal Self-efficacy Questionnaire. A mean score will be calculated. Scores range from 0 to 6. Higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy to resist drinking.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Washington

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluating Narrative Writing as a Potential Intervention to Promote Healthy Decisions About Alcohol During the Transition Out of High School

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 5, 2024
Registry last updated
Mar 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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