Clinical trial NCT06976528: Understanding the Associations Between Romantic Relationship Conflict, Psychophysiological Responding and Alcohol Misuse Among Emerging Adults
Official title: Understanding the Associations Between Romantic Relationship Conflict, Psychophysiological Responding and Alcohol Misuse Among Emerging Adults
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Conditions: Heavy Episodic Drinking
Lead sponsor: New York University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-05-16
Enrollment: 160
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 21
Maximum age (years): 29
Standard ages: ADULT
Observational model: OTHER
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Emerging adults in couples in the NYC area

Brief summary: Emerging Adults (EA) engage in heavy episodic drinking (HED) at a greater quantity and frequency than any other time in their lives, which may lead to significant short- and long-term consequences. Although much is known about the influence of peers in EA alcohol use, there is a dearth of research examining the ways in which romantic partners influence EA drinking behaviors. The proposed study bridges a crucial gap in the existing literature by examining behavioral and physiological risk and resilience factors in the acute link between EA relationship conflict and alcohol consumption. EA couples will engage in two conflict resolution tasks interspersed with two puzzle tasks and two alcohol administration procedures. Because high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) is associated with alcohol use and emotion regulation during stressful experiences, HF-HRV and other physiological data will be collected throughout the laboratory procedures.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria: Age 21-29 years old, must be in a committed romantic relationship of at least 3 month duration, must report at least 2 HED episodes in the past 30 days (5 or more drinks within 2 hours for males, 4 or more drinks within 2 hours for females), must self-report that they have - on at least three occasions during the past year - consumed a quantity of alcohol that is equal to or greater than the standard dose administered for their weight inthe laboratory

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Meeting DSM-5 criteria for a history of or current neurological, psychotic, or bipolar disorders
2. History of self-reported head trauma requiring medical treatment
3. Body weight exceeding 250 pounds
4. Current enrollment in treatment or seeking treatment for a substance or alcohol use disorder
5. Current suicidal or homicidal intent
6. Serious cardiovascular health conditions (e.g. pacemaker, cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension) that may alter normative cardiac functioning
7. Treatment on medications such as lithium, methadone, alpha or beta blockers or cholinergic/anticholinergic medications likely to confound normative cardiovascular responding or response to alcohol administration. Stimulant or benzodiazepine medication use is permissible provided participants do not take medication on the day of study participation
8. Severe and/or unilateral IPV in the past 6 months
9. Pregnancy or breastfeeding
10. Severe Alcohol Use Disorder (as defined by the DSM-5)

Primary outcomes:
measure: High frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV)
timeFrame: ~8 hours
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
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