Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol use among adolescents and their parents
Official title: Longitudinal Impacts of Pandemic-Induced Disruptions on Adolescent Siblings' and Parents' Alcohol Use: A Family Life Course Perspective
Funded at Utah State University · NIH-10817815 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed drinking habits for teens and their parents, aiming to understand how these changes affect family life and relationships over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Logan, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $301,327 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030191-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10817815 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adolescents aged 10 to 17 and their parents who have experienced the pandemic's disruptions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not part of families with adolescents or who have not been affected by the pandemic may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted alcohol use among adolescents and their parents. By analyzing existing data and collecting new information, the study aims to understand the short- and long-term effects of these disruptions on family dynamics and substance use behaviors. The research focuses on a group of adolescent siblings and their parents, gathering insights through surveys conducted over multiple time points during the pandemic. This approach allows for a comprehensive view of how stressors related to the pandemic have influenced alcohol consumption patterns within families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide valuable insights into the factors influencing alcohol use in families during crises, potentially guiding interventions and support programs.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown that family dynamics and external stressors can significantly influence substance use, suggesting that this study's approach is grounded in established findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State University
Logan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Whiteman, Shawn David — Utah State University
- Study coordinator: Whiteman, Shawn David
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Family-based mHealth program to prevent early alcohol use by preteens
A mobile-based program helps parents of preteens prevent early alcohol use by providing practical guidance and strategies.
-
Biomarkers to detect recent heavy drinking in veterans
A doctor-scientist team is testing blood biomarkers to better identify recent excessive alcohol use in veterans so clinicians can screen, counsel, and care for those at risk.
-
Understanding how heavy drinking and anxiety relate in emerging adults
This grant studies how heavy alcohol use and anxiety symptoms interact in young adults (ages 18–34) and what biological stress markers might reveal about that relationship.
-
Understanding how veterans access care for alcohol use and behavioral health
A study following 2,000 post-9/11 veterans to see how alcohol use, PTSD, and depression relate to access to behavioral health care over four years.
-
Understanding how peer norms around alcohol and HIV prevention affect adolescents and young adults in rural Uganda
This project studies how what young people think their peers do or approve of influences drinking and HIV prevention behaviors in rural Uganda, with the goal of improving health outcomes.
-
Mentor Moms+: a community-led plan to cut alcohol use and HIV risk during pregnancy in South Africa
A community-based program adapts a trusted peer-led model to help pregnant and lactating people reduce alcohol use and HIV risk in South Africa.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.