InShape Prevention Plus Wellness Program Associated with Improved Substance Abuse and Health Indicators Among Young Adults

Prevention Plus Wellness recently partnered with a US Air Force Base to implement the InShape Prevention Plus Wellness (PPW) program to small groups of their Airmen. 

Identical surveys were collected before and after the single-session InShape PPW lesson.  After the lesson, behavioral intentions measures showed Airmen were some to very likely to: 

• Get physical activity most days a week (94%)
• Get 8 or more hours of sleep most nights (80%)
• Eat a variety of healthy foods each day (92%)

 Airmen were also not at all likely to: 

• Drink any alcohol (49%)
• Smoke any cigarettes (89%)
• Use any marijuana (94%)
• Use any e-cigarettes (74%) 

After the lesson, measures of perceived harm indicated Airmen believed “yes” that the following substances would harm their health or healthy habits:

• Alcohol (71%)
• Cigarettes (89%)
• Marijuana (71%)
• E-cigarettes (77%)
• Other illegal drugs (80%) 

Also after the lesson, measures of resistance self-efficacy showed Airmen were sure they could say NO to friends who asked them to use: 

• Alcohol (71%)
• Cigarettes (91%)
• Marijuana (91%)
• E-cigarettes (89%)
• Other illegal drugs (91%) 

Pre-to-post lesson improvements were found on the following measures among Airmen: 

• Increased intentions to get physical activity most days a week
• Increased intentions to get 8 or more hours sleep most nights
• Increased intentions to eat a variety of healthy foods each day
• Decreased intentions to use any cigarettes
• Increased perceived harm from using alcohol
• Increased perceived harm from using marijuana
• Increased perceived harm from using e-cigarettes
• Increased perceived harm from using other illegal drugs
• Increased resistance self-efficacy to say NO to e-cigarette use offers 

Written comments from Airmen about what they liked about the InShape Prevention Plus Wellness program included: 

• Made me think of what things I could be doing better in my life
• Reminded me of important things I had pushed aside
• Learning self-discipline/motivation to be more healthy and make better decisions
• Learning the negative impact that certain foods and drinks have on the body
• The connection between mental and physical activity
• How to establish a healthy lifestyle
• Suggestions for healthier lifestyle goals
• The stress reducing techniques
• Make me rethink my values and what I should look for in friends
• It was motivating and made me want to exercise and sleep more and eat more healthy foods 

Learn more about InShape PPW: https://preventionpluswellness.com/products/is-inshape-for-young-adults-program 

Please like and share this information with others in your region and state.  Thank you!

"The opposite of substance use isn't non-use,
it's wellness!"