In this talk, I will present the background, rationale, and design of the Alcohol Habits Study – an ongoing data collection effort focused on better understanding the predictors and sequelae of heavy alcohol use in the day-to-day lives of young adults, most of whom are Penn State
students. The study combines ecological momentary assessments (EMA) of alcohol use and context with continuous ambulatory monitoring of alcohol intoxication via a wearable transdermal sensor. The study seeks to (1) validate self-reports of alcohol use during naturalistic drinking
episodes by correlating them with device-measured transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC), a direct analogue of blood alcohol concentration (BAC); and (2) determine, as early as possible in the drinking episode, which factors are predictive of negative alcohol consequences (hangover,
legal infractions, unintended/risky sex) reported the next morning. Preliminary findings (as available) and their implications for prevention will be discussed.
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