Efficacy of Motivational Interviewing Therapy on Reduction of Alcohol Use Disorder among Students in Mount Kenya University, Kenya

Abstract

In many universities, there is a struggle with the issue of students’ alcohol use resulting in alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study sought to establish the efficacy of Motivational Interviewing (MI) therapy in reducing AUD among Mount Kenya University (MKU) students. The study was guided by the social learning and stages of change theories. Quasi-experimental research design and quantitative methods of data collection were used. A sample of 105 respondents, aged 18-26 years, with an average age of 22 years was selected through stratified purposeful sampling. In order to assess for the efficacy of MI, a social-demographic questionnaire was used to capture respondents’ demographic information, a Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) to screen for depression, a Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI) to screen for anxiety, and an AUD Identification Test (AUDIT) to screen for AUD. Depression and anxiety were the comorbidity disorders of interest in this study. Screening was done at baseline, midline, and end line. The data was collected from two MKU campuses: Nairobi and Nakuru and was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23. As per the results, the male respondents with AUD were higher (10.9%) as opposed to the female ones (5.5%); the prevalence of AUD among the respondents was 16.3%; and MI therapy was efficacious in reducing symptoms of AUD among the respondents (p=0.0001). It is recommended that counselors in universities apply MI for the effective intervention of AUD among the university students.