Project Status:

Active

Description:

Dr. Lopez’s research will examine the relationship between heavy alcohol use and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms among emerging adults ages 18–25, with a focus on chronic stress as a potential mechanism linking the two. The study will follow 75 young adults who report weekly alcohol use, recent heavy episodic drinking, and at least mild anxiety symptoms. Over the project duration, participants will complete surveys, provide physiological and biochemical measures of stress, and report on their daily experiences through ecological momentary assessment. Dr. Lopez aims to determine how alcohol use and anxiety symptoms influence one another over time, how each relates to chronic stress, and whether changes in stress help explain this relationship. Findings will inform the development of future interventions to reduce the risk of problematic alcohol use and anxiety among emerging adults.

Mentors: 

Jennifer Merrill, Ph.D., Brown University
Peter Monti, Ph.D., Brown University