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NCT Number: NCT06822257

Drinking in Young Adult Duos (DYAD) Study

This study examines the role of alcohol use in understanding the dynamics of romantic relationships. Couples will participate in a research session where they consume either an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage and complete study tasks. After the session, participants will provide information about their drinking habits, alcohol- and non-alcohol-related experiences, and relationship factors through brief surveys on their smart phones and again at 6-month and 12-month follow-up sessions. The findings from this study aim to improve understanding of alcohol use in close relationships and may inform future strategies for promoting healthier relationships and behaviors.

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Key information

Conditions

Alcohol Consumption Alcohol Drinking Alcohol Intoxication Alcohol-Related Disorders Alcoholic Intoxication Behavior Chemically-Induced Disorders Drinking Behavior Mental Disorders Substance-Related Disorders

Age range

21 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Kasey Creswell, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

1-412-779-4931

Kasey G. Creswell, PhD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

This study investigates alcohol consumption in romantic relationships. Couples will be recruited to participate in a laboratory-based alcohol administration session, during which they will consume either a moderate dose of alcohol or a non-alcoholic beverage. Following beverage consumption, couples will complete questionnaires and tasks.

The study employs a multi-method approach to assess alcohol in couples, including self-reports and behavioral tasks, both inside and outside of the lab (e.g., using ecological momentary assessment). Additionally, participants' drinking patterns and relationship factors will be tracked over time, with follow-up assessments conducted at 6-months and 12 months post-laboratory session.

The findings from this research will provide insights into the role that alcohol consumption plays in close relationships and may inform interventions to support healthier drinking behaviors and relationship outcomes.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Both members of the couple must:

  • be between the ages of 21 and 30
  • regularly consume alcohol
  • own a smartphone

Exclusion criteria

Neither member of the couple:

  • has a history of adverse reaction to the amount of beverage used in the study
  • has a history of major problems related to alcohol
  • is taking medications that could adversely interact with alcohol
  • is pregnant

Treatment and study plan

Alcohol beverage

Drug

moderate dose of alcohol

Non-alcohol beverage

Other

No alcohol given

Primary outcomes

  1. Social behaviors-observational

    Time frame: During couple interactions in the lab for a total duration of 55 minutes.

    Behavioral measures of social processes using validated and reliable behavioral coding schemes to code facial expressions, speech behaviors, and speech content: the Facial Action Coding System (Ekman, Friesen, & Hagar, 2002) and the Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System (Heyman, 2004). This coding uses binary (yes/no) codes for presence/absence of behaviors at each moment in time. Higher scores represent more instances of behaviors.

  2. Emotions

    Time frame: Immediately after the couple interactions in the lab referenced above.

    The 8-item Mood Measure (Fairbairn et al., 2021) will assess self-reported positive and negative emotions on scales from 0 (none) to 10 (extremely). Higher scores indicate a greater intensity of emotions.

  3. Social behaviors-self-report

    Time frame: Immediately after the couple interactions in the lab referenced above.

    Participants will provide ratings of their own and their partners' social behaviors on ten-point Likert scales. Higher scores indicate a greater endorsement of each behavior.

  4. Real-world experiences

    Time frame: The EMA protocol will be completed for 14 days post-lab session.

    Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) methods will be used to send a series of brief surveys to participants' smartphones to assess alcohol consumption (in standard alcoholic drinks).

  5. Longer term alcohol problems

    Time frame: Assessed longitudinally up to 12-months post-lab session.

    Follow-up sessions will assess alcohol problems using DSM-5 alcohol use disorder criteria. Higher scores reflect more alcohol problems.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Relationship functioning

    Time frame: Assessed longitudinally up to 12-months post-lab session.

    Relationship functioning will be assessed on 10 point Likert scales (Jakubiak & Feeney, 2009), with higher scores representing higher relationship functioning.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Kasey G. Creswell, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

412-779-4931

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Carnegie Mellon University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Registry information

Official study title

Understanding Alcohol Use in Young Adult Couples

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Feb 12, 2025
Registry last updated
May 28, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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