Reciprocal Relations of Protective Behavioral Strategies and Risk-Amplifying Behaviors with Alcohol-Related Consequences: Targets for Intervention with Female College Students‪.‬

ABSTRACT Transactional associations of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) and risk-amplifying behaviors (RAB) to alcohol-related negative consequences were tested. A sample of 138 undergraduate women was assessed with self-report measures at two time points four months apart. Over and above quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, engagement in risk-amplifying behaviors, but not protective behavioral strategies, predicted increased negative consequences concurrently. However, use of PBS but not RAB, predicted changes in experiencing negative consequences longitudinally. Frequency of negative consequences did not predict changes in either protective behavioral strategies or risk-amplifying behaviors over time. Results suggest that PBS and RAB may both be important but independent targets for intervention and prevention with college-aged women. Specifically, short-term intervention might target RAB, whereas prevention efforts might focus on RBS.