The Integration of Science and Practice: Unique Perspectives From Counseling Psychology Students

Counseling psychology training programs predominately subscribe to the scientist–practitioner training model, which emphasizes the mutual integration of science and practice. There has been extensive debate surrounding the applicability of the scientist–practitioner training model to the field of counseling psychology, and existing commentary from both trainers and trainees has documented the potential challenges to adequately integrating science and practice. In the current article, three counseling psychology doctoral students outline their experiences in a program that adheres to the scientist–practitioner training model. In particular, they describe their involvement in both clinical and scholarly related activities, their experiences with the integration of science and practice, and how the scientist–practitioner model has influenced their overall professional development. Specific examples of how the scientist–practitioner model can shape the perspectives and career goals of psychologists-in-training are reviewed

Alcohol Consumption and Negative Sex-Related Consequences Among College Women: The Moderating Role of Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies

Alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) limit overall negative consequences; however, less is known about the relationship between PBS and negative sex-related consequences. The purpose of the current study was to examine the moderating effects of 2 distinct types of PBS—controlled consumption strategies and serious harm reduction strategies—on the relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol-related risky sexual behavior and sexual victimization. Participants were 459 undergraduate women (ages 18–25) who had consumed alcohol within the past 30 days. Both types of PBS significantly qualified the alcohol-sexual victimization link, but neither type of PBS qualified the alcohol-risky sexual behavior link

Protective Behavioral Strategies, Alcohol Consumption, and Alcohol-Related Negative Consequences Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual College Students

INTRODUCTION: Limited research exists exploring the safe drinking behaviors of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) college students despite evidence that they seem to engage in higher frequencies of heavy episodic drinking than the general student population. METHODS: This study examined protective behavioral strategies (PBS) as a moderating variable in the relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol-related negative consequences in an online sample of 139 LGB college students. RESULTS: PBS qualified this relationship for heavy drinkers and not for light drinkers. DISCUSSION: Clinical and future research implications are explored, including for college counseling center clinicians with LGB clients

Drinking Motives and Alcohol Use Behaviors Among African American College Students: The Mediating Role of Protective Behavioral Strategies

Drinking motives are robust predictors of alcohol use behaviors among college students. However, less is known about the link between drinking motives and alcohol use behaviors among African American college students. This study explored the associations between drinking motives and alcohol use behaviors in a sample of 215 African American college students. The study also assessed whether protective behavioral strategies mediated the associations between drinking motives and alcohol use behaviors. A direct relationship emerged between enhancement motives and alcohol consumption, harmful drinking and alcohol-related negative consequences. Protective behavioral strategies mediated each of these relationships. Clinical and research implications are discussed

Protective Behavioral Strategies and Alcohol Use Outcomes Among College Women Drinkers: Does Disordered Eating and Race Moderate This Association?

The current study examined the degree to which associations that protective behavioral strategy use had with alcohol consumption and alcohol-related negative consequences were moderated by disordered eating and race. Participants were 382 female undergraduates (ages 18–25) who had consumed alcohol at least once within the previous month. Participants completed online self-report measures concerning their use of protective behavioral strategies, disordered eating, weekly alcohol consumption, harmful drinking patterns, and alcohol-related negative consequences. White non-Hispanic women who used the fewest protective behavioral strategies reported the highest levels of alcohol consumption and harmful drinking patterns. Protective behavioral strategy use was associated with lower levels of alcohol-related negative consequences except for African American women with low levels of disordered eating behaviors. For interventions targeting drinking among college women, disordered eating behaviors may increase risky behaviors and qualify relationships between protective behavioral strategies and alcohol-related negative consequences. Thus, assessment of disordered eating behavior as part of drinking interventions may be helpful

Alcohol Expectancies, Protective Behavioral Strategies, and Alcohol-Related Outcomes: A Moderated Mediation Study

Aims: The influence of alcohol expectancies on alcohol consumption and the negative consequences of alcohol consumption among college students has been well documented. Protective behavioral strategies are associated with decreases in alcohol use and related consequences. This study examined the extent to which the use of protective behavioral strategies mediated the influence that alcohol expectancies had for alcohol consumption and negative alcohol-related consequences. Methods: Measures of expectancies about alcohol consumption, protective behavioral strategies used when consuming alcohol, amount of alcohol consumed and negative consequences associated with alcohol use were completed by 679 traditional age undergraduate students via a secure website. A moderated mediation data analytic strategy was employed because of the gender differences that have been observed for alcohol expectancies, consumption, and consequences. Findings: The use of protective behavioral strategies was found to mediate the associations that positive expectancies had with both the amount of alcohol consumed and the negative consequences of alcohol consumption only for women. Conclusions: Education and harm reduction efforts for college student drinkers, including expectancy challenge initiatives, would benefit from including information about use of protective behavioral strategies

Social Anxiety and Alcohol-Related Negative Consequences Among College Drinkers: Do Protective Behavioral Strategies Mediate the Association?

The link between social anxiety and alcohol-related negative consequences among college students has been well documented. Protective behavioral strategies are cognitive–behavioral strategies that college students use in an effort to reduce harm while they are drinking. In the current study we examined the mediating role of the 2 categories of protective behavioral strategies (i.e., controlled consumption and serious harm reduction) in the relationship that social anxiety symptoms have with alcohol-related negative consequences. Participants were 572 undergraduates who completed measures of social anxiety, alcohol use, negative consequences of alcohol use, and protective behavioral strategy use. Only serious harm reduction strategies emerged as a mediator of the association that social anxiety symptoms had with alcohol-related negative consequences. Clinical and research implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved