Understanding how heavy drinking and anxiety relate in emerging adults
Official title: Longitudinal Assessment of Heavy Alcohol Use, Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Stress Biomarkers Among Emerging Adults
Funded at Brown University · NIH-11627893 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $354,545 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM130414-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11627893 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults aged 18–34 who report at least mild anxiety symptoms and engage in weekly alcohol use with recent heavy drinking episodes.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not drink heavily or have no anxiety symptoms may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
Emerging adults who drink heavily and have anxiety symptoms will be recruited to follow over time to see how stress biomarkers relate to their drinking and anxiety patterns. The study will collect information from participants about their alcohol use, anxiety symptoms, and stress-related biology to understand how chronic stress connects drinking and anxiety. By focusing on 75 emerging adults with mild anxiety and weekly drinking, researchers hope to identify mechanisms that could inform targeted interventions to prevent GAD in this high-risk group. The work will use longitudinal tracking to observe changes and possible mediating factors over the study period. Results could point to new ways to support young people in reducing harm from alcohol and anxiety.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could guide the development of interventions to prevent generalized anxiety disorder among young adults who drink heavily.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked stress biology with alcohol use and anxiety, but this study aims to clarify mechanisms in emerging adults.
Where this research is happening
-
Brown University
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: López, Gabriela — Brown University
- Study coordinator: López, Gabriela
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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.