A Scoping Review of Alcohol-Related Protective Behavioral Strategies: Consolidating Two Decades of Evidence
Year: 2026
Type: other
Abstract: This project synthesizes the empirical literature on alcohol-related Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS); cognitive and behavioral techniques individuals use before, during, and after drinking to reduce alcohol consumption and mitigate related harms (e.g., pacing drinks, alternating with water, arranging safe transportation, setting drink limits). To construct a defensible evidence base, we will systematically searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science records that we will screen down to primary peer-reviewed journal articles and reviews spanning measurement development, mechanisms of action, moderators (e.g., sex, race, drinking motives, impulsivity), event-level ecological momentary assessment studies, and intervention efficacy across diverse populations including college students, adolescents, veterans, sexual and gender minorities, and international samples. The review will map the current state of PBS research, identify measurement and methodological inconsistencies, characterize which strategies most reliably reduce alcohol-related consequences, and highlight underexplored populations and contexts. Expected outcomes include a consolidated evidence typology, actionable recommendations for future measurement standardization, and priorities for next-generation PBS interventions.
Source: Open Science Framework
Author: Robert Dvorak
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7212137865