Narrative Writing to Promote Healthy Decisions About Alcohol During the Transition Out of College

The purpose of the proposed research is to evaluate (1) whether a future possible self task (FPST) can lead to changes drinking identity (DI; how much one associates one's self with drinking) and (2) whether the FPST and changes in drinking identity also change indicators of alcohol misuse . This study focuses on individuals who are graduating from college, which is a time of transition and identity change. If such changes can be demonstrated, DI may be a mechanism for alcohol misuse and the FPST may be an additional, novel intervention strategy to reduce alcohol misuse during the post-college transition. The goal of this clinical trial is to test the future possible self task (FPST) in individuals who are about to graduate from college. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can the FPST change drinking identity (a risk factor for alcohol misuse)? Can the FPST reduce risks for alcohol misuse? Participants will complete the FPST, a task that involves writing for 20 minutes, and will answer a series of questionnaires and computer-based word categorization tasks. Participants will be followed for a year after completing the FPST. Researchers will compare different versions of the FPST and different doses (one writing sessions vs. 3 writing sessions) to see which are more effective for changing drinking identity and reducing risks for alcohol misuse.

NCT Number	NCT07418424
Lead Sponsor	University of Washington Collaborators: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Conditions	Alcohol Use, Unspecified
Enrollment	468 participants
Start Date	2026-02-10
Primary Completion	2028-10 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-10 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-02-27