Research Projects

This project investigates how emotional processes shape substance use risk in the daily lives of trauma-exposed individuals. Our primary goal is to understand how moment-to-moment emotional experiences influence the likelihood of substance use in real- time, particularly among individuals living with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Through innovative use of mobile and wearable technology, we aim to identify how real-time emotional states act as immediate predictors of substance use. By combining subjective self-reports through experience sampling methods (ESM) with objective physiological data collected via biosensors, this study captures emotional processes as they unfold in participants’ natural environments.

This integration of real-time emotion tracking with physiological data is at the forefront of substance use research and has the potential to improve early detection and intervention efforts.

The study explores the role of happiness in substance use, treatment, and recovery among trauma-exposed adults as well as the feasibility and acceptability of positive psychological interventions (PPIs) to support substance use recovery. Through semi-structured interviews, we will elicit perspectives directly from trauma-exposed individuals who use substances, are currently using services to address their substance use, and who are in sustained recovery from substance use.