Shifting drinking identity to reduce risky drinking during the transition to adulthood
Targeting Drinking Identity as a Mechanism for Preventing and Reducing Hazardous Drinking During Adolescent and Young Adult Developmental Transitions
This project tries to change how young adults see themselves as drinkers to help people aged 18–25 drink less and avoid alcohol-related harm.
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-11373212 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to join if you are 18–25 and going through transitions like graduating high school or college. Researchers will use brief, identity-focused strategies aimed at changing how you think about yourself in relation to alcohol and will collect surveys and drinking reports over time. People receiving the identity-focused approach will be compared with others who get standard information to see whether changes in identity lead to less risky drinking. The team builds on prior work showing that drinking identity predicts alcohol use and that identity shifts are linked to changes in drinking behavior.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are 18–25-year-olds experiencing life transitions (like leaving high school or college) who currently drink alcohol and want to reduce risky use or prevent problems.
Not a fit: People under 18, older adults, or individuals with severe alcohol use disorder who need medical detox or intensive treatment are unlikely to benefit from this type of brief, identity-focused intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help young people change their self-view around drinking and reduce heavy drinking and its negative consequences.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows drinking identity predicts alcohol misuse and that identity changes track with drinking changes, but identity-focused intervention trials are relatively new and still being tested.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lindgren, Kristen P — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Lindgren, Kristen P
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.