The Social Cognitive Theory (SCT: Bandura, 1997) provides a mainframe for behaviour change by considering personal, behavioural and environmental factors that self-efficacy plays a major role in. Interventions that have focused on the enhancement of self-efficacy levels rather than typical strategies in reducing alcohol consumption rates have proven to be more effective (Holloway et al., 2006) suggesting psychological theories should be used within the development of an intervention aimed at university full time undergraduates. .
Young and Oei (1996) produced the Drinking Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire- Revised (DRSEQ-R) and after confirmatory analysis, found it offers a stable factor structure and consistent validity (Oei et al., 2004). The success of the questionnaire is based on the understanding of self efficacy as an essential cognitive construct acting as a foundation in both behaviour and behaviour change (Bandura, 1977; 1978; and 1997, cited in Oei and Morawska, 2004); the way in which self efficacy is incorporated into the DRSEQ-R is via the measurement of one's ability to refuse an alcoholic beverage in certain situations, covering components of opportunistic drinking, social pressure and emotional relief. Oei et al (2005) produced versions of the questionnaire suitable for the adult and adolescent population and for this study both were reviewed and various modifications were made to make it more suitable for the university population. Although the Theory of Planned Behaviour was originally intended to underpin this intervention, a stronger association with the DRSEQ was found with the Social Cognitive Theory through considerations of variables and self efficacy. The Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS: Dimeff et al., 1999) was used to assist the strategy design of motivational interviewing within this study.