The Moderating Effect of Positively Valenced Words on Driving after Drinking Outcomes

ABSTRACT Objective: Driving after drinking is a major concern among college students. The present study examined the association between interventionist use of positively valenced words and intervention outcomes in the context of a text-messaging based intervention aimed at reducing drinking after driving behaviors among college students. Method: Data analyzed in this manuscript come from a previously published randomized controlled trial of a brief intervention aimed at reducing alcohol-impaired driving. Participants were 25 college students who reported driving after drinking 2 or more drinks at least twice in the past three months. After completing baseline measures, participants were provided a brief personalized driving after drinking feedback intervention via text-messaging. Results: A moderation analysis revealed that the relationship between the number of drinks consumed prior to driving at baseline and the number of drinks consumed prior to driving at 3-month follow-up was moderated by the interventionist's use of positively valenced words during the intervention. Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that the use of positively valenced words by an interventionist during a text message-based intervention moderates intervention outcomes.