Technical and relational process in MI sessions with a sample of Hispanic/Latinx adults who engage in heavy drinking: A latent growth mediation model
Authors: Molly Magill, Victor Figuereo, David G. Zelaya, Kristina Jackson, Suzanne M. Colby, and Christina S. Lee
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a technique designed to increase personal motivation and willingness to make lifestyle changes in individuals who struggle with behaviors such as heavy drinking. To the authors’ knowledge, this new study, ‘Technical and relational process in MI sessions with a sample of Hispanic/Latinx adults who engage in heavy drinking: A latent growth mediation model’, represents the first test of MI causal theory in a sample of Hispanic/Latinx adults who engage in heavy alcohol consumption. One of the factors studied with regard to the efficacy of MI is the proportion of client statements in favor of change, or ‘change talk’, versus the proportion of client statements against change, or ‘sustain talk’ in a given MI session. The authors hypothesized that the combination of a therapist’s technical and relational MI skills would elicit client change talk, which in turn would promote positive client outcomes after the session.
Key Insights:
- While the proportion of change talk did increase, this growth in client language favoring change did not predict a decline in heavy drinking and alcohol-related consequences.
- Exploratory approaches examining the specific content of change talk might yield more ‘on the ground’ insights that can inform further inquiry.