Ongoing Studies

 

Alcohol, Minority Stress, and Intimate Partner Violence Studies

There are two studies related to alcohol, minority stress, and intimate partner violence. The first study aims to examine the temporal and longitudinal relations between alcohol and intimate partner violence among sexual minority young adults. Moreover, this is the first study to examine whether minority stress interacts with alcohol use to predict intimate partner violence. This is a multi-site study with the University of Tennessee – Knoxville (Co-I: Stuart, G. L). This study is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; R01AA027248).

The second study aims to examine whether alcohol use and minority stress interact to predict risk for intimate partner violence in transgender and gender non-conforming adults. This is a mult-site study with the University of Tennessee – Knoxville (Co-I: Stuart, G. L). This study is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; R21AA028553).

 

Alcohol, Minority Stress, and Sexual Assault

This study aims to examine whether alcohol use and minority stress interact to increase risk for sexual assault perpetration and whether sexual assault victimization and minority stress interact to increase risk for alcohol use. This study is focusing on LGBTQ+ young adults and includes a focus on intersectionality theory. Using a multi-method design (i.e., daily diary surveys and qualitative interviews), this study will inform the development of LGBTQ+ affirming sexual assault interventions.  This is a multi-site study with the University of Tennessee – Knoxville (Co-I: Stuart, G. L). This study is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; R01AA031213).

 

Alcohol Use Risk among Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults

This project aims to examine risk and resilience factors for alcohol use among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults using a mixed-methodological design. Pre-existing data from the USTS 2015 survey will examine risk and resilience for alcohol use across diverse identities. Qualitative interviews will provide in-depth information on risk and resilience for alcohol use. Findings will inform the development of TGD-affirming, brief alcohol interventions. This is a multi-site study with the University of Illinois (MPI: Cohen, J). This study is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; R21AA030350).

 

Previous Studies

Ecological Momentary Assessment of Alcohol-Related Intimate Partner Violence

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to examine the temporal association between alcohol and intimate partner violence perpetration, as well as proximal moderators of this association. This was a multi-site study with the University of Tennessee – Knoxville (Co-I: Stuart, G. L.). This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; R21AA026630).

 

Couples Daily Diary Study

The Couples Daily Diary Student investigated the temporal association between alcohol use and IPV in couples utilizing a 60-day daily diary design. This study also investigated whether genes related to impulsivity and emotional reactivity moderated the temporal association between alcohol and IPV perpetration. This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; R21AA024524).

Alcohol and Bystander Intervention Study

The Alcohol and Bystander Intervention study focused on undergraduate men who had been mandated by the university to receive an alcohol intervention due to violating a university alcohol policy. In this study, men were randomized to one of two group intervention conditions: (1) Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) + Relaxation or (2) an integrated BASICS and Bystander and Social Norms intervention focused on alcohol-related sexual assault. Follow-up assessments were conducted to determine whether men who received the integrated intervention had lower rates of sexual assault than men in the BASICS + Relaxation condition. This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ; 2016-R2-CX-0048).

 

Student Projects

Emily Munoz

Culturally-specific risk and resilience factors that moderate the relationship between reproductive coercion and adverse health outcomes among Latinx individuals

This research aims to investigate whether reproductive coercion is associated with adverse health outcomes (e.g., reproductive health outcomes, psychological distress, substance use, etc.) among Latinx individuals, and whether culturally-specific risk and resilience factors moderate the relationship between victimization and health outcomes. It utilizes a cross-sectional survey design to examine these aims among 200 Latinx individuals between the ages of 18-45 across the US. 
Funding source: Henry P. David Grant for Research in Human Reproductive Behavior & Population Studies

 

Lauren Grocott

Cross-Day Associations Between Relational Factor and Intimate Partner Violence in Young Adult Couples 

This research aimed to examine whether proximal relationship satisfaction and conflict increase risk for IPV perpetration. It utilized dyadic daily diary design of young adult couples.
Funding source: NIAAA R21AA024524 (PI: Shorey)

Alcohol Use and Mental Health as Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence from Adolescence to Young Adulthood

This research aims to examine (1) the bidirectional association between alcohol use and IPV perpetration and victimization, (2) symptoms of depression or post-traumatic stress as potential moderators in the relationship between alcohol use and IPV perpetration and victimization, and (3) whether these relationships change as a function of sex assigned at birth, race, and ethnicity. It utilizes eleven years of longitudinal annual data of adolescents (age 15) to young adults (age 26). 
Funding source: NIAAA F31AA031157 (PI: Grocott); NICHHD K23HD059916 (PI: Temple)

Karen Alvarez

The moderating effect of cultural factors on the relationship between mental health symptoms and alcohol use among Latina/o/x/e college students

This research aims to examine (1) the relationship between symptoms of anxiety and depression and alcohol use among Latina/o/x/e young adults, (2) whether cultural factors (i.e., familism and acculturative stress) moderate the relationship between symptoms of anxiety and depression and alcohol use among Latina/o/x/e young adults. A total of 200 18-25 year old, Latina/o/x/e young adults will be recruited from college campuses in Milwaukee, Wisconsin [e.g., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), Marquette University] and surrounding areas (e.g., University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Mount Mary University, Carroll University, Alverno College).

Funding source: (PI: Dr. Shorey)