Cathy Lau‐Barraco
Biographic Data
| ID | 5065702 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Cathy Lau‐Barraco |
| GIVEN NAMES | Cathy |
| FAMILY NAME | Lau‐Barraco |
| SIGNATURE | BARRACO C L |
| AFFILIATIONS | Old Dominion University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2072-5477 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 12 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 16 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Event-Level Examinations of Impaired Control, Protective Behavioral Strategies, and Alcohol-Related Consequences
Objective Impaired control over alcohol use is a well-established, prospective risk factor for alcohol use disorder. However, research is mixed regarding the risk conveyed by event-level impaired control behaviors. While most of this research evaluates unplanned drinking episodes, a continuous estimate, such as the number of unintended drinks consumed, appears to be an important but overlooked consideration. Moreover, there is limited understandi…
An Application of the Stressor-Vulnerability Model of Drinking in College Student Drinkers
Background: The stressor vulnerability model provides theoretical support for conditions under which drinking to cope (DTC) is likely to occur (i.e., decreased adaptive coping, increased positive alcohol expectancies). However, research has only tested this model in a college sample reporting trauma. Generalizability to a non-trauma-specific sample college drinkers would support applications of the model and inferences about coping-related drinki…
Normative Perceptions of Peer Drinking Distinguish High-Intensity Drinkers from Other Drinking Groups
Background: High-intensity drinking (HID), or drinking that doubles the binge threshold (i.e., 8+/10+ drinks for women/men), is associated with more negative consequences than binge-only drinking. However, research focusing on HID and factors that may delineate HID from other drinking behaviors is lacking. The present study evaluated if perceived norms for peer drinking behavior (i.e., descriptive norms for alcohol quantity and frequency and inju…
Daily positive alcohol expectancies and alcohol use outcomes among college students
Expectancy theory supports alcohol expectancies, or the expected effects of drinking, as an important factor in alcohol use behaviors. Recent research supports that alcohol expectancies fluctuate daily, but scant research has examined specific types of expectancies and their associations with alcohol use at the daily level. Consequently, the present study examined (1) the daily association between select expectancies (i.e., sociability, tension r…
Differential pathways of risky drinking via coping motives in college and noncollege young adults
The current study tested a mediation model of psychological functioning (i.e., perceived stressors, psychological distress, and self-regulation) and risky drinking through a drinking to cope pathway comparing college and noncollege young adults. Participants were 623 young adult drinkers ( M age = 21.46) who completed an online survey. Multigroup analyses examined the proposed mediation model for college students and nonstudents. For nonstudents,…
Daily Exercise and Alcohol Use Among Young Adult College Students
The present study examined associations between exercise and alcohol use at the between- and within-person levels, including temporal sequencing and the impact of gender. Participants were 221 college students that completed an online survey and 14 daily surveys assessing their daily exercise and alcohol use. Individuals who reported higher exercise scores also consumed more alcohol, on average. On days when individuals reported consuming fewer d…
Sex and Racial Differences in Patterns of Disordered Eating and Alcohol Use
The present study aimed to determine how young adults' use of disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) and alcohol uniquely cluster with one another, how these clusters differ by sex and race, and map onto health-related correlates. As a part of a cross-sectional study assessing college student health and experiences, female ( n = 1,026), male ( n = 336), White ( n = 640), and Black ( n = 561) young adult college students at three universities ( M age …
A daily diary investigation of self‐reported alcohol‐related direct and indirect aggression
Research supports the relationship between alcohol use and direct aggression, however, scant research has examined the association between alcohol use and indirectly aggressive behavior. Further, extant research has relied on retrospective reporting of behaviors, which may be subject to recall bias. The daily diary methodology enables the assessment of both the between‐ and within‐subject variation, as well as reduces the likelihood of biased rep…
Testing daily associations between impulsivity, affect, and alcohol outcomes
Findings suggest that changes in positive affect and impulsivity may be a risk factor for alcohol problems in a daily context. Future research examining within-person impulsivity and negative outcomes may benefit from considering positive affect
Impulsivity and risk-taking as predictors of alcohol use patterns and alcohol related-problems
This study examined the predictive utility of self-report measures of impulsivity and risk-taking in alcohol use outcomes (i.e. quantity, frequency, binge frequency, and alcohol-related problems). Participants were 370 (265 women) college student drinkers between ages 18 and 25 years from a mid-size east coast university. Participants completed measures of impulsivity, risk-taking, alcohol use, and alcohol-related problems. Impulsivity and risk-t…
Social Factors Linking Stigma‐Related Stress with Alcohol Use among Lesbians
A conceptual model linking stigma‐related stress and lesbian women's alcohol use and related problems via social factors (i.e., social constraints and social isolation), depressive symptoms, and negative reinforcement drinking motives (i.e., coping and conformity) was tested. Self‐identified lesbian women ( N = 1,048), age 18–35 years in the United States completed an online survey of discrimination, stigma consciousness, social isolation, social…
Identifying patterns of situational antecedents to heavy drinking among college students
The current study contributed to the larger drinking literature by identifying profiles that may signify a particularly risky drinking style. Findings may help guide intervention work with college heavy drinkers
Motivations and Consequences of Alcohol Use Among Heavy Drinking Nonstudent Emerging Adults
Research suggests that nonstudent emerging adults may be at elevated risk for alcohol-related problems in adulthood. The present study utilized a qualitative approach to broaden our understanding of the drinking-related perceptions and experiences of heavy drinking nonstudents, with the ultimate goal of generating meaningful knowledge that could aid intervention planning. Research aims were to identify nonstudent (1) drinking motivations and (2) …
Emotional Distress, Alcohol Use, and Bidirectional Partner Violence Among Lesbian Women
This study examined the relationship between emotional distress (defined as depression, brooding, and negative affect), alcohol outcomes, and bidirectional intimate partner violence among lesbian women. Results lend support to the self-medication hypothesis, which predicts that lesbian women who experience more emotional distress are more likely to drink to cope, and in turn report more alcohol use, problem drinking, and alcohol-related problems.…
Drinking buddies
The present study sought to further examine the role of peers on alcohol use and problems among young adults. In particular, we focused on a specific subset of peers in one's social network mostly for activities related to alcohol use called "drinking buddies." The presence of drinking buddies in one's social network has been shown to predict heavy drinking uniquely over but few studies have focused on potential factors moderating the relationshi…
Environmental context effects on alcohol cognitions and immediate alcohol consumption
The present experimental study sought to demonstrate the effects of environmental context on accessibility of alcohol-related cognitions and immediate alcohol consumption. Fifty-six males were randomly assigned and exposed to either a simulated bar (alcohol contextual prime) or a neutral laboratory (neutral prime). Memory accessibility was measured using implicit memory association measures and immediate drinking behavior was measured unobtrusive…
Social Factors Linking Stigma‐Related Stress with Alcohol Use among Lesbians
A conceptual model linking stigma‐related stress and lesbian women's alcohol use and related problems via social factors (i.e., social constraints and social isolation), depressive symptoms, and negative reinforcement drinking motives (i.e., coping and conformity) was tested. Self‐identified lesbian women ( N = 1,048), age 18–35 years in the United States completed an online survey of discrimination, stigma consciousness, social isolation, social…
Emotional Distress, Alcohol Use, and Bidirectional Partner Violence Among Lesbian Women
This study examined the relationship between emotional distress (defined as depression, brooding, and negative affect), alcohol outcomes, and bidirectional intimate partner violence among lesbian women. Results lend support to the self-medication hypothesis, which predicts that lesbian women who experience more emotional distress are more likely to drink to cope, and in turn report more alcohol use, problem drinking, and alcohol-related problems.…
Environmental context effects on alcohol cognitions and immediate alcohol consumption
The present experimental study sought to demonstrate the effects of environmental context on accessibility of alcohol-related cognitions and immediate alcohol consumption. Fifty-six males were randomly assigned and exposed to either a simulated bar (alcohol contextual prime) or a neutral laboratory (neutral prime). Memory accessibility was measured using implicit memory association measures and immediate drinking behavior was measured unobtrusive…
Drinking buddies
The present study sought to further examine the role of peers on alcohol use and problems among young adults. In particular, we focused on a specific subset of peers in one's social network mostly for activities related to alcohol use called "drinking buddies." The presence of drinking buddies in one's social network has been shown to predict heavy drinking uniquely over but few studies have focused on potential factors moderating the relationshi…
Emotional Distress, Alcohol Use, and Bidirectional Partner Violence Among Lesbian Women
This study examined the relationship between emotional distress (defined as depression, brooding, and negative affect), alcohol outcomes, and bidirectional intimate partner violence among lesbian women. Results lend support to the self-medication hypothesis, which predicts that lesbian women who experience more emotional distress are more likely to drink to cope, and in turn report more alcohol use, problem drinking, and alcohol-related problems.…
Identifying patterns of situational antecedents to heavy drinking among college students
The current study contributed to the larger drinking literature by identifying profiles that may signify a particularly risky drinking style. Findings may help guide intervention work with college heavy drinkers
Motivations and Consequences of Alcohol Use Among Heavy Drinking Nonstudent Emerging Adults
Research suggests that nonstudent emerging adults may be at elevated risk for alcohol-related problems in adulthood. The present study utilized a qualitative approach to broaden our understanding of the drinking-related perceptions and experiences of heavy drinking nonstudents, with the ultimate goal of generating meaningful knowledge that could aid intervention planning. Research aims were to identify nonstudent (1) drinking motivations and (2) …
Impulsivity and risk-taking as predictors of alcohol use patterns and alcohol related-problems
This study examined the predictive utility of self-report measures of impulsivity and risk-taking in alcohol use outcomes (i.e. quantity, frequency, binge frequency, and alcohol-related problems). Participants were 370 (265 women) college student drinkers between ages 18 and 25 years from a mid-size east coast university. Participants completed measures of impulsivity, risk-taking, alcohol use, and alcohol-related problems. Impulsivity and risk-t…
Social Factors Linking Stigma‐Related Stress with Alcohol Use among Lesbians
A conceptual model linking stigma‐related stress and lesbian women's alcohol use and related problems via social factors (i.e., social constraints and social isolation), depressive symptoms, and negative reinforcement drinking motives (i.e., coping and conformity) was tested. Self‐identified lesbian women ( N = 1,048), age 18–35 years in the United States completed an online survey of discrimination, stigma consciousness, social isolation, social…
Testing daily associations between impulsivity, affect, and alcohol outcomes
Findings suggest that changes in positive affect and impulsivity may be a risk factor for alcohol problems in a daily context. Future research examining within-person impulsivity and negative outcomes may benefit from considering positive affect
A daily diary investigation of self‐reported alcohol‐related direct and indirect aggression
Research supports the relationship between alcohol use and direct aggression, however, scant research has examined the association between alcohol use and indirectly aggressive behavior. Further, extant research has relied on retrospective reporting of behaviors, which may be subject to recall bias. The daily diary methodology enables the assessment of both the between‐ and within‐subject variation, as well as reduces the likelihood of biased rep…
Sex and Racial Differences in Patterns of Disordered Eating and Alcohol Use
The present study aimed to determine how young adults' use of disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) and alcohol uniquely cluster with one another, how these clusters differ by sex and race, and map onto health-related correlates. As a part of a cross-sectional study assessing college student health and experiences, female ( n = 1,026), male ( n = 336), White ( n = 640), and Black ( n = 561) young adult college students at three universities ( M age …
Daily Exercise and Alcohol Use Among Young Adult College Students
The present study examined associations between exercise and alcohol use at the between- and within-person levels, including temporal sequencing and the impact of gender. Participants were 221 college students that completed an online survey and 14 daily surveys assessing their daily exercise and alcohol use. Individuals who reported higher exercise scores also consumed more alcohol, on average. On days when individuals reported consuming fewer d…
Differential pathways of risky drinking via coping motives in college and noncollege young adults
The current study tested a mediation model of psychological functioning (i.e., perceived stressors, psychological distress, and self-regulation) and risky drinking through a drinking to cope pathway comparing college and noncollege young adults. Participants were 623 young adult drinkers ( M age = 21.46) who completed an online survey. Multigroup analyses examined the proposed mediation model for college students and nonstudents. For nonstudents,…
Daily positive alcohol expectancies and alcohol use outcomes among college students
Expectancy theory supports alcohol expectancies, or the expected effects of drinking, as an important factor in alcohol use behaviors. Recent research supports that alcohol expectancies fluctuate daily, but scant research has examined specific types of expectancies and their associations with alcohol use at the daily level. Consequently, the present study examined (1) the daily association between select expectancies (i.e., sociability, tension r…
An Application of the Stressor-Vulnerability Model of Drinking in College Student Drinkers
Background: The stressor vulnerability model provides theoretical support for conditions under which drinking to cope (DTC) is likely to occur (i.e., decreased adaptive coping, increased positive alcohol expectancies). However, research has only tested this model in a college sample reporting trauma. Generalizability to a non-trauma-specific sample college drinkers would support applications of the model and inferences about coping-related drinki…
Normative Perceptions of Peer Drinking Distinguish High-Intensity Drinkers from Other Drinking Groups
Background: High-intensity drinking (HID), or drinking that doubles the binge threshold (i.e., 8+/10+ drinks for women/men), is associated with more negative consequences than binge-only drinking. However, research focusing on HID and factors that may delineate HID from other drinking behaviors is lacking. The present study evaluated if perceived norms for peer drinking behavior (i.e., descriptive norms for alcohol quantity and frequency and inju…
Event-Level Examinations of Impaired Control, Protective Behavioral Strategies, and Alcohol-Related Consequences
Objective Impaired control over alcohol use is a well-established, prospective risk factor for alcohol use disorder. However, research is mixed regarding the risk conveyed by event-level impaired control behaviors. While most of this research evaluates unplanned drinking episodes, a continuous estimate, such as the number of unintended drinks consumed, appears to be an important but overlooked consideration. Moreover, there is limited understandi…
Psychology (16 works) · Clinical Psychology (14 works) · Medicine (13 works) · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes (13 works) · Environmental health (12 works) · Poison control (12 works) · Alcohol (11 works) · Clinical Psychology (11 works) · Psychiatry (11 works) · Injury prevention (10 works)