Assessing the Protective Value of Protective Behavioral Strategies

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Many students report using strategies believed to reduce risk of harm from consumption of alcohol. The effectiveness of these strategies was tested in this study. METHOD: A sample of 442 undergraduate students (50.5% female) was asked to report how many alcoholic drinks they consumed on a recent drinking occasion, which protective strategies were used, and which harms were experienced. RESULTS: Although reported use of more protective strategies was associated with less consumption, it appeared to be unrelated to harmful consequences. More detailed analyses suggested that only a small subset of strategies (primarily those concerning the manner of drinking) was consistently associated with reduced consumption and/or harms. CONCLUSIONS: The findings cast doubt on the efficacy of protective strategies or at least the validity of the self-report instruments used to assess these strategies.