# Comorbidity Between Body Dissatisfaction and Substance Use: A Daily Diary Study of Alcohol, Nicotine Vaping, and Cigarette Use Among Young Adults

> **NIH NIH F31** · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE · 2020 · $36,186

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The developmental transition from adolescence to young adulthood is characterized by escalations in both
substance use and body dissatisfaction (BD; negative, subjective evaluation of one's shape and weight). BD
predicts onset of multiple adverse developmental outcomes. By young adulthood BD affects the majority of
women and men, although prevalence and intensity of concern with overweight is higher among women.
Substance use and BD are typically studied independently, but elevated rates of problematic drinking and
cigarette use among youth with BD suggest the need for research on pathways to substance use and
differential approaches to preventing substance use for young adults with BD. This study aims to capture the
temporal sequencing of BD and alcohol and nicotine use on a daily time scale, test potential mechanisms
linking BD to alcohol and nicotine use, and examine person and day characteristics that moderate these
associations. This study addresses two NIDA research priorities: gender-related differences in pathways to
substance use and mechanisms of comorbidity between substance use and other health concerns. This study
will yield rich data on nicotine vaping/electronic nicotine delivery system use, which has recently emerged as a
significant public health concern among youth. Aim 1 is to investigate links between trait BD and weekly
alcohol and nicotine use and person-level characteristics that moderate these links. Aim 2 is to investigate
within-person prospective links between daily BD and same- and next-day alcohol and nicotine use and day-
level characteristics that moderate these links. Aim 3 is to examine daily negative affect and weight control
motivations as mediators of within-person links between daily BD and same- and next-day alcohol and nicotine
use, respectively. To achieve these aims, the applicant will conduct a 14-day daily diary study of 125 college
students, yielding up to 1,750 daily observations and 125 baseline surveys. The analytic approach will include
regression analyses (Aim 1), multilevel modeling (Aim 2) and multilevel structural equation modeling (Aim 3).
This study will advance scientific knowledge on the co-occurrence of BD and alcohol and nicotine use among
young adults and inform development of real-time interventions for a vulnerable population. The applicant's
exceptional mentor team has expertise in statistical analysis and intensive longitudinal methods (Stephanie
Lanza), young adult development, gender, and gendered health disparities (Susan McHale), substance use
and implementation of daily diary studies (Gregory Fosco), and BD (Alison Field) and will guide the applicant's
development into an independent researcher. The applicant seeks training in the etiology of alcohol and
nicotine use, BD and gender, intensive longitudinal methods, professional development and research
dissemination, and the responsible conduct of research. This training and research will position the appl...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10066606
- **Project number:** 1F31DA051118-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE
- **Principal Investigator:** Anna K Hochgraf
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $36,186
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10066606

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10066606, Comorbidity Between Body Dissatisfaction and Substance Use: A Daily Diary Study of Alcohol, Nicotine Vaping, and Cigarette Use Among Young Adults (1F31DA051118-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10066606. Licensed CC0.

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