Browsing by Author "Perillo, Patricia A."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS): A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Mental Health Practitioners on the College Campus
    Wagstaff, Jennifer Fay (Virginia Tech, 2015-04-26)
    High-risk drinking among college students is believed to be the most serious health issue facing college and universities throughout the United States. In 1999, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) established a task force to address the issue and released a report with recommendations for intervention and prevention. Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) emerged as an evidence-based practice to address high-risk drinking. Quantitative researchers produced results that indicate BASICS and interventions similar to BASICS are an effective means to reduce high-risk drinking and the negative outcomes associated with high-risk drinking. Despite strong evidence for the effectiveness of BASICS, little is known about its fidelity when BASICS is implemented in a practical setting. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives and experiences of practitioners in the mental health profession who use the BASICS intervention via semi-structured interviews. Themes emerged related to the application of the intervention, the strongest and weakest aspects of intervention, and barriers to implementation. The themes linked to the application of BASICS on campuses included: (1) a comprehensive/progressive approach to address high-risk drinking; (2) modifications; and (3) the mandated student. The themes relating to the strongest aspects of the intervention were: (1) harm reduction; (2) education; (3) personal awareness; and (4) self-empowerment while the weakest aspects were: (1) the dilemma of one size fits all and (2) the personalized feedback report (PFR). The themes connected to barriers were: (1) the referral process; (2) training; and (3) onus on the facilitator. These twelve themes provide insight into the benefits and challenges of implementing BASICS in a practical setting on college campuses. Implications for both mental health practitioners and student affairs professionals are discussed, study limitations are provided, and suggestions for future research are offered. This study concludes with specific recommendations for student affairs professionals that includes the use of BASICS combined with other best practices to effectively address the issue of high-risk drinking and the negative consequences associated with this behavior on college campuses.
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    The Influence of Masculinity on Self-Authorship in College Men
    Hughes, Byron A. (Virginia Tech, 2017-10-16)
    The holistic development of college students encompasses their growth academically, socially, and personally and occurs as students master knowledge, develop connections with others, and increase their engagement in the college setting (Kuh, Kinzie, Schuh, and Whitt, 2013; Mauk, 2011; Shushok, 2008; Sungok, Shim, Ryan, and Cassady, 2012). Self-Authorship is a theory that describes holistic development in people as they transition from externalized to internalized ways of knowing (Baxter Magolda, 2009). The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how constructs of masculinity influence Self-Authorship in college men. The conceptual framework for this study was Baxter Magolda's (2008) dimensions of Self-Authorship: Epistemological, Interpersonal, and Intrapersonal. Data were collected through interviews with men in their final year of study in college. The Masculine Behavior Scale (Snell, 1996) was utilized to organize participants into three groups: high scorers, medium scorers, and low scorers, which allowed me to further examine their experiences within the dimensions of Self-Authorship. Analysis of the data revealed three key findings. First, participant scores on the Masculine Behavior Scale declined as their motivation to learn moved from external (status, power, etc.) to internal factors (learning for the sake of learning). Second, high scorers formed relationships that affirmed their abilities. Yet, medium/low scorers developed relationships for the sake of mutual benefit. Lastly, high scorers sought external validation, while medium/low scorers relied upon internal validation.
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    A Multi-Year Investigation of Alcohol Consumption among University Students: Innovations in Assessing and Intervening to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harm
    Smith, Ryan Christopher (Virginia Tech, 2013-05-14)
    Alcohol use and abuse among college/university students continues as a major public health concern.  One potential source of alcohol-related harm is the inability of students to estimate their current level of intoxication (gBAC).  The current four field studies use breathalyzers to investigate student gBAC and the efficacy of a variety of BAC-feedback tools at promoting greater awareness of driving risks while under the influence of alcohol.     The research was conducted across 89 nights spanning seven academic semesters from Fall 2009 to Fall 2012.  Research tables were setup between the hours of 6:00pm and 2:00am at three locations near downtown bar establishments and one on-campus location near a late-night dining facility.  Unique subject codes were created to track participants across multiple nights of participation.  In total, 12,432 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) readings were collected from 10,225 unique individuals. Study 1 examined general epidemiology across all nights.  The average BAC of drinking participants was .100 mL/L.  Results revealed significant differences in BAC as a function of demographic and environmental factors.  Additionally, it was found the average student was incorrect in estimating his or her BAC by .034 mL/L. Studies 2 and 3 examined the accuracy of BAC-estimation tools (i.e., nomograms, sobriety tests, and phone applications) and the efficacy of these tools to increase awareness of driving-related risks.  On average, both nomograms and BAC-estimation phone applications were incorrect in estimating BAC by over .05 mL/L.  Sobriety tests performed slightly better than chance at discriminating BACs of .08 mL/L.   Participants receiving BAC-feedback had increased awareness of driving risk across levels of intoxication. Nomogram and breathalyzer feedback tended to promote healthier perceptions of external risk.  Sobriety testing shifted the internal perception of feeling less safe to drive.  No effect was observed for BAC-estimation phone applications. Study 4 found individuals who received breathalyzer feedback across multiple nights of the research were significantly more accurate at estimating their BAC.  Specifically, individuals on the fifth night of participation were .017 mL/L more accurate at estimating their BAC as compared to the first night.  Future research areas and policy implications are discussed.
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    Servant Leadership is Dependent on YOUR Happiness
    Perillo, Patricia A. (Virginia Tech, 2017-04-26)
    Vice President for Student Affairs Perillo's presentation to the 2017 McComas Staff Leadership Seminar