Date of Award
2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology
Specialization
Clinical Psychology
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Nicole H. Weiss
Abstract
Alcohol use is one of the most prominent public health problems and contributors to health disparities for Black adults. Although Black adults tend to have equivalent or even lower rates of alcohol use compared to their white counterparts, Black adults experience disproportionate negative alcohol-related consequences. Prior research has suggested that depression serves as both an antecedent and consequence of alcohol use and related consequences among Black adults. Additional research is needed to examine culturally-relevant factors that may increase risk for alcohol use among Black adults with depression. The current study utilized data collected via ecological momentary assessment to examine the between- and within-person associations among depression, racial discrimination and experiences of trauma symptoms of discrimination, and alcohol use and related consequences among Black adults in the community. Findings suggested that depression symptom severity at an earlier interval predicted alcohol use, craving, and related consequences later during the subsequent interval, and that earlier instances of racial discrimination and experiences of trauma symptoms of discrimination earlier in the day respectively predicted alcohol use and craving later in the day. The study extends extant research in this area by incorporating an intensive micro-longitudinal approach to assessing mood and behavior and offers several important clinical implications in the context of unique treatment barriers within this population.
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Emmanuel D., "MICRO-LONGITUDINAL EXAMINATION OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND ALCOHOL USE AMONG BLACK ADULTS: PROXIMAL RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS" (2025). Open Access Dissertations. Paper 4472.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss/4472