How emotions and drinking are linked
A multiverse analysis of the affect-alcohol use association
This project looks at whether adults (21+) drink more when they feel better or worse by collecting frequent real‑time mood and drinking reports and comparing many ways to measure the link.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11319903 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, I'll report my mood and alcohol use several times a day on my phone during multiple short monitoring periods. The team will compare hundreds of ways to define moods, timing, and drinking outcomes to see which approaches show consistent links. They'll hold out part of the data to check which findings replicate and use a specification‑curve approach to weigh evidence across analysis choices. The goal is to find robust patterns of when and for whom emotions lead to drinking.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 21 or older who regularly consume alcohol and are willing to complete frequent phone‑based mood and drinking surveys.
Not a fit: People under 21, those who do not drink, or those needing immediate inpatient medical treatment for severe alcohol dependence are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify which people drink in response to emotions and inform more personalized prevention or treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies have produced mixed results, and this project uses a novel multiverse/specification‑curve approach to clarify which findings are robust.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: King, Kevin Michael — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: King, Kevin Michael
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 below.