myStudentBody.com: Using the Internet to Reduce High Risk Drinking in College Students

Sarah Lord, Ph.D., Director of College Programs, Inflexxion, Inc.
Respondent: Michael Nakkula, Kargman Assistant Professor in Human Development and Urban Education Advancement; Director, Risk and Prevention Program, HGSE

Friday, November 14, 2003

It seems you can't open a newspaper or turn on the television without reading about the poor health and health attitudes of America's youth. Both the binge drinking levels and sexual activities on college campuses have made headlines across the country. Reliable surveys find that 40% of college students engage in high-risk drinking, and 50-80% of campus violence is alcohol related.

Can health educators reach college students in a way that is both effective and meaningful? In a recent TIE Open Seminar, clinical psychologist Sarah Lord presented an innovative Web-based approach developed by Inflexxion, Inc., of Newton, MA.

Student information on alcohol and sexual health is traditionally found in campus health centers. But students do not always use this information: their needs are 24/7, not the hours of the center; and access to information in a private, confidential format is essential. Research has shown that personalized, interactive, and engaging support can help young people to change their behavior.

The interdisciplinary team of educators, epidemiologists, clinical psychologists, and web programmers at Inflexxion responded to these challenges with myStudentBody.com. This website -- developed under a grant from the National Institutes of Health, and available by license to higher education institutions -- provides students with information in language they can understand and a style they can relate to.

Most important, the site gives personalized feedback based on input from the individual student. For example, after answering questions about age, gender, race, and the number of drinks consumed each day of a typical week, the user gets a profile comparing her alcohol consumption with trends for other people of similar backgrounds.

Other features of the website include a blood alcohol calculator and an ask the expert question of the week. Students are also able to listen to real-life stories told by other students, and to post their own perspectives.

This tailored approach has yielded a decline in high-risk drinking, according to the self-evaluation tools that students themselves have submitted. Administrators are able to track this information on a school-wide level through assessment tools that respect the confidentiality of each student.

Inflexxion has recently begun piloting another version of myStudentbody.com, designed to combat the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Professor Nakkula raised questions about the long-term effects of this approach and the audience it serves. While students are spending longer than average on a visit to myStudentBody.com, is this enough to create lasting change? Is the goal prevention or reduction of risky behavior? And how does the content of the site reflect that aim?

During the discussion, participants also raised the question of using this technology in elementary and high schools. While the program is currently only available to colleges and universities, the technology exemplified by myStudentBody.com could ultimately help change the way that young people learn and make decisions about their health.

Access to www.myStudentBody.com is password protected, but interested visitors may receive a guest pass by contacting Inflexxion, Inc. To learn more about the company, visit their website.

-- Written by Kristen DeAmicis, with contributions by Francie Fries and Joe Blatt