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Cathy Lau-Barraco, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University
Director, Behavioral Alcohol & Related Studies Laboratory (BARS Lab)
Education & Training
- Ph.D. – Clinical Psychology, University of Central Florida
- Postdoctoral Training – Research Institute on Addictions, SUNY Buffalo
- Licensed Psychologist (Virginia #0810007666)
ODU Program Affiliation
- Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology
- Experimental Psychology M.S. Program
Research Interests
My program of research focuses on the etiology, consequences, and prevention of problematic alcohol use, with a particular emphasis on the young adulthood developmental period (i.e., ages 18 to 25 years). One aspect of my research centers on the development and implementation of brief interventions to reduce harmful drinking. I am also particularly interested in individual-level (e.g., cognitions, motivations), social (e.g., social network), and environmental (e.g., context) factors contributing to the development and maintenance of alcohol use behaviors. A growing area of research interest is in multiple health risk behaviors (e.g., dietary intake, physical activity, concurrent substance use) and their interrelationships with alcohol consumption.