A new paper published in the Journal of School Health reviewed the theory- and evidence-based literature about identity development and the effects of a drinker identity on alcohol use behaviors in adolescence.
The following results were reported:
- There is some evidence that the drinker identity forms in early adolescence and becomes more well-developed during adolescence.
- The drinker identity predicts alcohol use behaviors both concurrently and over time in adolescence and young adulthood.
The authors concluded that identity-based strategies may be promising for prevention or treatment.
One strategy is to use evidence-based prevention programs founded on the Behavior-Image Model (BIM). BIM is a theoretical framework emphasizing the use of positive peer and future desired images for creating wellness-based self-identities as positive alternatives to alcohol and drug-related identities.
Learn more about how BIM informs all Prevention Plus Wellness programs: https://preventionpluswellness.com/pages/frontpage
Read research findings supporting the targeting of positive identities by two evidence-based screening and brief interventions, the SPORT and InShape Prevention Plus Wellness programs.
Research evaluating the SPORT Prevention Plus Wellness program for youth: https://preventionpluswellness.com/pages/published-research-evaluation-sport-ppw
Research evaluating the InShape Prevention Plus Wellness program for college students/young adults: https://preventionpluswellness.com/pages/published-research-evaluating-inshape-ppw
Read the research abstract: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/josh.12603/full
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