SOFTPEERS: feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a peer-led intervention to prevent binge drinking in adolescents. Results from a mixed-methods pilot cluster-randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Introduction: Population surveys indicate that binge drinking is highly prevalent among adolescents worldwide and is associated with a wide range of harmful consequences. School-based peer-led interventions are considered a promising strategy, as adolescents are especially receptive to preventive messages delivered by their peers. The present pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the SOFTPEERS program, a peer-led intervention designed to prevent binge drinking in French high school students.Methods: A mixed-methods design was used. The quantitative component consisted of a cluster-randomized controlled trial involving 2,021 students in grades 10–11 (15–18 years) from eight high schools (four intervention, four control) assessing the 6-month impact of the SOFTPEERS program on binge drinking prevalence. The qualitative component consisted of a process evaluation conducted through 13 individual interviews and 8 focus groups, examining delivery conditions, perceptions of individuals involved, and contextual factors influencing implementation. Quantitative data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models with a logit link function, and qualitative data through thematic analysis.Results: Quantitative analyses revealed a significant time x group interaction on binge drinking prevalence (b = −0.08, 95% confidence interval [−0.12, −0.04]), indicating that the increase in binge drinking prevalence in the past 30 days between baseline and 6-month follow-up was significantly smaller in the intervention group (+1.3 percentage points) than in the control group (+9.2 percentage points). Qualitative analyses indicated that peer educators considered the program appropriate, enjoyable, and personally enriching. Peer recipients appreciated the peer prevention approach, considering it more open and pleasant than an adult-led approach, and demonstrating a certain degree of effectiveness in terms of knowledge gained and behavioral regulation. Members of the high school staff also appreciated the peer-to-peer approach. However, logistical and scheduling constraints required local adaptations from both professional health educators and peer educators to ensure program delivery.Discussion: These findings suggest that the SOFTPEERS program is a feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective peer-led intervention to prevent binge drinking among French high school students. In light of these results, a full-scale cluster-randomized controlled trial should be conducted to confirm the program’s effectiveness.
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BibTeX
@article{coussongelie2026softpeers,
title = {{SOFTPEERS: feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a peer-led intervention to prevent binge drinking in adolescents. Results from a mixed-methods pilot cluster-randomized controlled trial}},
author = {Florence Cousson-Gélie and Olivier Lareyre and Emilie Charton and Marie Cholley-Gomez and Sarah Ricupéro and Florian Jeanleboeuf and Marie Boulvin and Adrien Minotte and Delphine Poquet and Amélie Anota and Agnès Dumas and Marion Carayol and Mathieu Gourlan},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1791492},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05773801v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - SOFTPEERS: feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a peer-led intervention to prevent binge drinking in adolescents. Results from a mixed-methods pilot cluster-randomized controlled trial
AU - Florence Cousson-Gélie
AU - Olivier Lareyre
AU - Emilie Charton
AU - Marie Cholley-Gomez
AU - Sarah Ricupéro
AU - Florian Jeanleboeuf
AU - Marie Boulvin
AU - Adrien Minotte
AU - Delphine Poquet
AU - Amélie Anota
AU - Agnès Dumas
AU - Marion Carayol
AU - Mathieu Gourlan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/08
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1791492
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05773801v1
AB - Introduction: Population surveys indicate that binge drinking is highly prevalent among adolescents worldwide and is associated with a wide range of harmful consequences. School-based peer-led interventions are considered a promising strategy, as adolescents are especially receptive to preventive messages delivered by their peers. The present pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the SOFTPEERS program, a peer-led intervention designed to prevent binge drinking in French high school students.Methods: A mixed-methods design was used. The quantitative component consisted of a cluster-randomized controlled trial involving 2,021 students in grades 10–11 (15–18 years) from eight high schools (four intervention, four control) assessing the 6-month impact of the SOFTPEERS program on binge drinking prevalence. The qualitative component consisted of a process evaluation conducted through 13 individual interviews and 8 focus groups, examining delivery conditions, perceptions of individuals involved, and contextual factors influencing implementation. Quantitative data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models with a logit link function, and qualitative data through thematic analysis.Results: Quantitative analyses revealed a significant time x group interaction on binge drinking prevalence (b = −0.08, 95% confidence interval [−0.12, −0.04]), indicating that the increase in binge drinking prevalence in the past 30 days between baseline and 6-month follow-up was significantly smaller in the intervention group (+1.3 percentage points) than in the control group (+9.2 percentage points). Qualitative analyses indicated that peer educators considered the program appropriate, enjoyable, and personally enriching. Peer recipients appreciated the peer prevention approach, considering it more open and pleasant than an adult-led approach, and demonstrating a certain degree of effectiveness in terms of knowledge gained and behavioral regulation. Members of the high school staff also appreciated the peer-to-peer approach. However, logistical and scheduling constraints required local adaptations from both professional health educators and peer educators to ensure program delivery.Discussion: These findings suggest that the SOFTPEERS program is a feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective peer-led intervention to prevent binge drinking among French high school students. In light of these results, a full-scale cluster-randomized controlled trial should be conducted to confirm the program’s effectiveness.
SN - 2296-2565
SN - 2296-2565
ER -