Intervention Preferences,Barriers,and Motivators of Nonstudent Emerging Adult Drinkers

Abstract

Emerging adults with lower educational attainment are at elevated risk for a range of negative outcomes. Relative to college populations, far less attention has focused on reducing drinking-related risks among noncollege-attending young adults. Research that elucidates nonstudents’ preferences for interventions along with differences based on drinking-related risk level is critical to the development of tailored efficacious intervention approaches. We aimed to describe nonstudent emerging adults’ intervention utilization and presenting concerns, as well as intervention preferences and perceived motivators and barriers to intervention engagement. We also examined differences based on drinking-related risk status (i.e., high vs. low-risk drinkers). Our sample consisted of nonstudent drinkers (N = 184) who completed a cross-sectional, online survey. Results revealed surprisingly low intervention utilization histories. Participants largely preferred online or web-based services over other modalities, which may be related to high endorsement of access-related barriers. Certain barriers and motivators were more endorsed than others among the overall sample. High-risk drinkers had higher endorsement of barriers related to access (e.g., time, costs) and personal or emotional concerns (e.g., lack of support, shame and embarrassment) relative to low-risk drinkers. Our findings provide key insights into possible approaches for improving alcohol intervention efforts among this underserved, high-risk population.