# Using ecological momentary data to inform a web-intervention for romantic partners concerned about their loved ones drinking

> **NIH NIH R34** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $301,682

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Alcohol misuse negatively affects relationships and is significantly correlated with higher rates of relationship
conflict, distress, and dissolution as well as other serious negative interpersonal consequences (e.g., domestic
violence, sexual assaults). Encouragement from concerned partners (CPs) is a common motivator for those
who misuse alcohol to pursue care and often the most helpful mechanism in supporting change. The goals of
this proposal are to: Identify how specific CP behaviors influence their partner’s alcohol craving, motives,
drinking, and problems on a daily basis using dyadic ecological momentary assessment techniques (Aim 1);
use the knowledge from EMA analysis to iteratively develop a CP-focused web-based intervention (WBI) that
provides psychoeducation about communication patterns that influence DP drinking and by integrating
personalized feedback about CPs’ own communication behaviors that may be working against their goals (Aim
2); and pilot the WBI’s efficacy on CP outcomes (depression, anxiety, social support), their partner’s drinking
behavior (alcohol consumption, motives, related consequences), and both partners’ relationship distress and
conflict (Aim 3). We expect the WBI will yield significant improvements in all outcomes. This project is
significant because intervening with CPs has strong potential to change relationship dynamics that may reduce
problems and prevent future problems associated with alcohol misuse. It also develops a new prevention
model that does not rely on the drinking partner attending a clinical facility to access care. The proposed study
is innovative because it uses dyadic and ecological momentary assessment designs to test dynamic questions
about interdependence in relationship interactions and alcohol use between partners and employs the
generated knowledge to inform intervention adaptation. Teaching CPs to effectively communicate their
concerns may be a necessary catalyst for decreasing their partner’s alcohol use and preventing alcohol use
disorders. The potential reach of this intervention is large such that it can be easily implemented over the web
to those who may need help but would not otherwise seek care.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10666306
- **Project number:** 1R34AA030182-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Karen Chan Osilla
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $301,682
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10666306

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10666306, Using ecological momentary data to inform a web-intervention for romantic partners concerned about their loved ones drinking (1R34AA030182-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10666306. Licensed CC0.

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