# Understanding differences in risk for alcohol problems between Black and White drinkers: Integrating alcohol response, stress, and drinking motives

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2021 · $585,925

## Abstract

Project Summary
Significance: Black drinkers experience more alcohol problems than White drinkers even at equivalent levels
of alcohol use. These problems are pervasive, occurring across physical, social, and legal outcomes. The
reasons that explain why Black drinkers are at elevated risk for experiencing alcohol problems are
understudied and not well understood, but may involve differences in level of stress and acute response to
alcohol. The proposed R01 examines these constructs both within the laboratory and in the natural
environment using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to identify proximal points of intervention for both
Black and White drinkers. Aims: Aim 1 will examine racial differences in the anxiolytic effects of alcohol prior to
and after a stress induction in the lab. Aim 2 will directly test if differential alcohol response measured in the lab
strengthens the association between stress and alcohol cognitions (craving for alcohol, drinking motives), and
accounts for racial differences in these cognitions. Aim 3 will examine the extent to which lab-based alcohol
response and daily reports of stress explain racial differences in alcohol problems through 12-month follow-up.
Hypotheses: We hypothesize that Black drinkers will have increased sensitivity to the anxiolytic effects of
alcohol compared to White drinkers and that this sensitivity to alcohol as well as elevated stress will predict
increased risky alcohol cognitions in EMA. Additionally, the association between stress and alcohol cognitions
will be stronger for participants with the most sensitivity to the anxiolytic effects of alcohol. EMA alcohol
cognitions will partially account for the association between alcohol response, stress, and alcohol problems
during the EMA period and at the 6- and 12- month follow-ups. These processes and their transaction will
partially account for why Black drinkers, relative to White drinkers, experience more alcohol problems.
Approach: Young adult drinkers (N = 280; 21-30 years of age; 50% Black, 50% female) will be recruited from
the community. Participants will first complete a semi-structured diagnostic interview and questionnaires and
will then complete two laboratory sessions (placebo and alcohol; randomized order) with a standardized stress
task to assess acute alcohol response. Next, participants will complete a 17-day EMA protocol to record
fluctuations in stress, alcohol cognitions, alcohol response, alcohol use/problems. To allow for the prediction of
prospective outcomes follow-up assessments at 6- and 12- months will be conducted and will include past 6
month self-reported alcohol use, alcohol problems, stress, and alcohol cognitions, as well as a 90-day timeline
follow-back interview. This R01 proposal is directly in line with the NIAAA's strategic priorities to understand
the role of stress in relation to alcohol problems and to decrease health disparities. The proposed research
takes a critical step towards increasing our ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10111440
- **Project number:** 5R01AA025617-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah L Pedersen
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $585,925
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-03-05 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10111440

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10111440, Understanding differences in risk for alcohol problems between Black and White drinkers: Integrating alcohol response, stress, and drinking motives (5R01AA025617-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10111440. Licensed CC0.

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