How does brief motivational intervention change heavy drinking and harm among underage young adult drinkers?

This study tested mediating processes hypothesized to explain the therapeutic benefit of an efficacious motivational interview (MI). The constructs of interest were motivation to change, cognitive dissonance about current drinking, self-efficacy for change, perceived young adult drinking norms, future drinking intentions, and the use of protective behavioral strategies.A randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy of a brief MI to a time-...