Purpose: This study evaluated the effects of a self-determination theory-based smartphone self-management program on problem drinking, drinking motivation, and basic psychological needs among college students at risk for problem drinking. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Sixty-five college students were assigned to either the experimental group (n=33) or the control group (n=32). Data were collected at baseline, at posttest, and at a 4-week follow-up and were analyzed using mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: Significant group-by-time interactions were found for scores on the Korean version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-K; F=14.06, p<.001, ηp²=.183), drinking motivation (F=20.44, p<.001, ηp²=.245), total basic psychological needs (F=16.30, p<.001, ηp²=.206), autonomy (F=11.56, p<.001, ηp²=.155), and competence (F=12.78, p<.001, ηp²=.169). In the experimental group, AUDIT-K and drinking motivation scores decreased, whereas the scores for total basic psychological needs, autonomy, and competence increased. These changes were maintained at the 4-week follow-up. In contrast, the group-by-time interaction for relatedness was not significant after Greenhouse-Geisser correction (F=0.03, p=.958, ηp²=.001). Conclusion: The program may help reduce problem drinking and drinking motivation while supporting autonomy and competence among college students at risk for problem drinking.

https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2026.35.3.284