# Affective Dynamics Associated with Simultaneous Alcohol and Marijuana Use Outcomes among a High-risk Sample of Young Adults

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2021 · $69,210

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use (SAM; using both substances at the same time so that effects
overlap) is a significant public health concern among young adults in the US. Nearly one-third of young adult
drinkers report past-year SAM use and rates of SAM use are continuing to rise1. These rising rates are especially
concerning, as emerging data indicate that SAM use is associated with worse short- and long-term negative
consequences than alcohol-only use2-6. Thus, there is a critical need to understand psychosocial vulnerability
factors related to risky SAM use. Both mean levels of negative and positive affect and affective dynamics (i.e.,
how emotional experiences fluctuate across time and situations) are related to risky alcohol use patterns among
young adults. However, specific affective vulnerability factors associated with SAM use, and whether these
factors differ from alcohol-only use, remain unknown. The proposed F32 seeks to fill this gap in the literature by
conducting a secondary analysis of time-intensive daily data (MPIs: Lee/Patrick; R01AA025037) to elucidate the
roles of affect and affective dynamics on SAM use outcomes among a sample of high-risk adults (N = 409). We
will test whether theoretically-relevant affective dynamic processes (affective instability, negative emotion
differentiation): (1) are more useful for predicting SAM use and alcohol use than mean level of affect (within- and
between-subjects); (2) prospectively predict changes in SAM use and use-related problems over time; and (3)
can distinguish SAM use from single substance use patterns, which has direct implications for the personalization
and precision of prevention and intervention efforts. In addition to addressing these specific aims, the applicant
will receive training in (1) the etiology, maintenance, and intervention of alcohol use, SAM use, and co-occurring
mental health problems among young adults; (2) advanced quantitative statistics; (3) ecological momentary
assessment longitudinal study development and management; and (4) professional development (e.g.,
manuscript and grant writing). Findings from this cost-efficient study could have important implications for
prevention and intervention efforts to reduce SAM use. Specifically, personalized, technology-based
interventions could incorporate emotion regulation skills training and in-the-moment information to help those at
risk for SAM use to practice more adaptive strategies to manage affect.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10311758
- **Project number:** 1F32AA029589-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Katherine Walukevich-Dienst
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $69,210
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-16 → 2024-07-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10311758

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10311758, Affective Dynamics Associated with Simultaneous Alcohol and Marijuana Use Outcomes among a High-risk Sample of Young Adults (1F32AA029589-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10311758. Licensed CC0.

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