# Dyadic Influence Processes Among Heavy Drinking Couples

> **NIH NIH K01** · STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO · 2020 · $188,190

## Abstract

Close relations, especially romantic partners, can exert profound influence on alcohol use both in everyday life
and in treatment contexts. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these effects are not well understood.
Elucidating the nature of these interpersonal processes and their role in the maintenance or reduction of high-
risk drinking behavior is crucial to addressing problematic alcohol use in romantic relationships. Based on
previous models of social control (i.e., influence, regulation) of health behavior, the nature of the social control
strategy (i.e., overt, covert), as well as the recipient’s emotional and behavioral responses to that strategy, are
relevant constructs that will be examined. The proposed Mentored Research Scientist Award (K01) entails
structured training and research activities that will enable the applicant (Dr. Fillo) to examine the nature, use,
and relative effectiveness of the full range of social control strategies used among romantic partners aimed at
reducing high-risk drinking behavior. A long-term career goal of the candidate is to establish an independent
research program investigating the psychosocial mechanisms linking close relationships and high-risk alcohol
use, and this award is a critical initial step toward that goal. The candidate will be mentored in professional
development (i.e., responsible conduct of research, grantsmanship, conference presentations) and receive
extensive training in three key areas: 1) alcohol-related influence processes in close relationships, 2) measure
development and validation techniques, and 3) intensive longitudinal methods and data analysis. The
candidate proposes a three-phase project using samples of heavy drinking adults in committed, romantic
relationships. A comprehensive measure of social control strategies will be adapted from existing measures
and prior qualitative research, supplemented with items derived from focus groups (Study 1), and validated
using online survey methodology (Study 2). In Study 3, the use and relative effectiveness of overt and covert
social control strategies among romantic partners will be prospectively examined as they naturally unfold using
daily diary methods. It is hypothesized that covert social control strategies can effectively influence partners’
high-risk drinking behavior by avoiding the negative emotional and behavioral recipient responses often
associated with overt strategies. By examining the role of interpersonal processes in the pursuit of identifying
and measuring mechanisms of behavior change, the proposed research aligns well with NIH’s cross-cutting
program on the Science of Behavior Change. The training environment of the Clinical and Research Institute
on Addictions, combined with a knowledgeable and experienced mentorship team (Drs. Leonard, Testa,
McCrady, Tucker, Lucke, Derrick), will provide the candidate with unparalleled resources and support during
the award period. Furthermore, the proposed training and...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10020880
- **Project number:** 5K01AA027547-02
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer Ann Fillo
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $188,190
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-20 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10020880

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10020880, Dyadic Influence Processes Among Heavy Drinking Couples (5K01AA027547-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10020880. Licensed CC0.

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