# Development of a Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention to Reduce High-Intensity Drinking among Young Adults

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $177,887

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
High-intensity drinking (HID; 8+/10+ drinks for females/males) is a distinct form of excessive alcohol use that
results in significant, even life-threatening, physical and psychological consequences. Fifteen percent of young
adults have engaged in HID in the past two weeks, and this form of drinking most often occurs in social
settings. Characteristics of the drinking context (e.g. alcohol availability, demographic composition of the event)
are associated with levels of alcohol consumption; however, current interventions for young adult alcohol
misuse do not address real-time risk factors in the drinking context. The proposed Mentored Research
Scientist Career Development Award (K01) will provide Dr. Cox with the training and mentorship to become an
independent behavioral scientist focused on the prevention of young adult alcohol misuse. The objective of the
proposed research is to identify risk factors in the immediate drinking context for HID among young adults and
use this information to develop and pilot test a just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) that addresses the
identified risk factors to reduce HID and associated consequences. To achieve her long-term career goals, Dr.
Cox requires additional training. This K01 will provide the necessary support for Dr. Cox to pursue the following
scientific training objectives: (1) obtain skills in the design of mHealth intervention approaches, (2) execute
experimental designs to test interventions for young adult alcohol misuse, (3) gain proficiency in priority
selection of behavior change techniques for intervention strategies, and (4) enrich statistical capacities in the
analysis of intensive longitudinal data. These objectives will be met through a comprehensive training plan that
consists of one-on-one meetings, didactics/trainings, mentor-directed readings, seminars/lab meetings,
scientific meetings, and hands-on research experience. To support these goals, Dr. Cox has a mentoring team
comprised of leading researchers in all of these areas that each have a record of successful NIH-funded
research and extensive mentoring experience. Skills gained through the training plan will be put into action
through the execution of the complementary research plan. Aim 1 is to determine JITAI decision points by
identifying factors in the drinking context that are uniquely associated with HID via a 4-week study using
ecological momentary assessment with 50 young adults (ages 18-24). Aim 2 is to iteratively develop a JITAI
that addresses identified risk factors to prevent HID among this population. Aim 3 is to pilot test the JITAI to a)
assess its feasibility and acceptability, and b) explore preliminary effects on HID. This research is consistent
with NIAAA’s initiative to develop effective prevention strategies that address the risks for consequences that
result from excessive drinking or other forms of alcohol misuse. The proposed study will provide data for Dr.
Cox’s first R01 p...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10039203
- **Project number:** 1K01AA028540-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Melissa Jean Cox
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $177,887
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-16 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10039203

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10039203, Development of a Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention to Reduce High-Intensity Drinking among Young Adults (1K01AA028540-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10039203. Licensed CC0.

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