Adolescent satisfaction with brief motivational enhancement for alcohol abuse

Although many investigations point to the importance of treatment satisfaction and working alliance as predictors of treatment engagement and outcome, few studies have closely examined these issues among adolescents. This study investigates satisfaction among a nonclinical adolescent sample participating in a school-based alcohol-prevention program. Adolescents self-selected to one of three formats: individual, group, and website. Three hundred nineteen satisfaction measures completed at the time of each participant's final session were used for analyses. Hierarchical regression analyses examined predictors of consumer satisfaction. In general, greater participation in the program was significantly related to satisfaction. Students who participated in the group and individual formats reported greater satisfaction than students who participated in the website format. Current alcohol users were less satisfied with the session focusing on how experimental use can lead to problem use; lifetime abstainers were more satisfied with the session focusing on stress and coping. These analyses have implications for informing future adolescent school-based interventions for alcohol problems.