Understanding the Associations Between Romantic Relationship Conflict, Psychophysiological Responding and Alcohol Misuse Among Emerging Adults

NCT ID: NCT06976528

Last Updated: 2025-10-02

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 160 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-09-26
• Study Completion Date: 2028-07-31

Brief Summary

Emerging Adults (EA) engage in heavy episodic drinking (HED) at a greater quantity and frequency than any other time in their lives, which may lead to significant short- and long-term consequences. Although much is known about the influence of peers in EA alcohol use, there is a dearth of research examining the ways in which romantic partners influence EA drinking behaviors. The proposed study bridges a crucial gap in the existing literature by examining behavioral and physiological risk and resilience factors in the acute link between EA relationship conflict and alcohol consumption. EA couples will engage in two conflict resolution tasks interspersed with two puzzle tasks and two alcohol administration procedures. Because high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) is associated with alcohol use and emotion regulation during stressful experiences, HF-HRV and other physiological data will be collected throughout the laboratory procedures.

Conditions

Heavy Episodic Drinking

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: OTHER
• Study Time Perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age 21-29 years old

2. Must be in a committed romantic relationship of at least 3 months duration

3. Must report at least 2 HED episodes in the past 30 days (5 or more drinks within 2 hours for males, 4 or more drinks within 2 hours for females)

4. Must self-report that they have - on at least three occasions during the past year - consumed a quantity of alcohol that is equal to or greater than the standard dose administered for their weight in the laboratory

Exclusion Criteria

1. Meeting DSM-5 criteria for a history of or current neurological, psychotic, or bipolar disorders

2. History of self-reported head trauma requiring medical treatment

3. Body weight exceeding 250 pounds

4. Current enrollment in treatment or seeking treatment for a substance or alcohol use disorder

5. Current suicidal or homicidal intent

6. Serious cardiovascular health conditions (e.g. pacemaker, cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension) that may alter normative cardiac functioning

7. Treatment on medications such as lithium, methadone, alpha or beta blockers or cholinergic/anticholinergic medications likely to confound normative cardiovascular responding or response to alcohol administration. Stimulant or benzodiazepine medication use is permissible provided participants do not take medication on the day of study participation

8. Severe and/or unilateral physical IPV with your current partner at any time

9. Sexual IPV with current partner at any time

10. Fear of current partner

11. Pregnancy or breastfeeding

12. Severe Alcohol Use Disorder (as defined by the DSM-5)

13. Current diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia

• Minimum Eligible Age: 21 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 29 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

New York University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

386 Park Avenue South

New York, New York, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Facility Contacts

Sarah Harris

Role: primary

sh8527@nyu.edu

914-419-4745

Other Identifiers

5K23AA030328

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

20237802

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id