A number of studies have also looked at gender as a potential moderator of PFI efficacy among volunteer college samples and the results have been equivocal. Murphy et al. (2004) found that women in both PFI conditions with and without a motivational interview lowered their weekly drinking at the 6-month follow-up, while men did not reduce their drinking in either condition. Similarly, Chiauzzi, Green, Lord, Thum, and Goldstein (2005) reported that, although volunteer students who received a PFI were not statistically different from students in the control group overall, a subset of heavy drinking women in the PFI condition reduced their total drinks and HED during special occasions more than their heavy drinking counterpart in the educational control condition. In contrast, there were no such group differences among men. However, several other studies have found no gender differences in response to PFIs (e.g., Carey, Henson, et al., 2007; Marlatt et al., 1998). For example, Marlatt and colleagues (1998) reported that, although women overall reported significantly more declines in AP than men, men and women responded similarly to a PFI. Thus, it is generally unclear whether a relative advantage for women exists following a PFI compared to men.
