BS, Psychology, Virginia Tech (2005)
MS Experimental Psychology, Old Dominion University (2009)
PhD, Applied Experimental Psychology, Old Dominion University (2012)
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions, University of New Mexico, 2012-2014
Research Interests:
Risky/addictive behaviors
Protective behavioral strategies
Mood regulation models of alcohol use
Development/implementation of preventions/interventions
Intensive longitudinal data methods (i.e., ecological momentary assessment)
Advanced quantitative methodology
Mechanisms of behavior change
Current Projects:
Integrative Treatment for Achieving Holistic Recovery from Comorbid Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder (RM1DA055301, mPIs: Witkiewitz/Pearson)
Development and Validation of Opioid Protective Behavioral Strategies Measure (OPBSM) (PI: Hurlocker, co-I: Pearson)
Probing the Mechanisms of Narcotics Anonymous Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (PI: Pearson, co-Is: O'Sickey, Tonigan)
Use of Cannabis-Based Products for Opioid Use Disorder: A Strategic Observational Study (PI: Pearson)
Addictions Research Team: Project Art (PI: Pearson)
Selected Research Publications:
Pearson, M. R., Bravo, A. J., Kirouac, M., & Witkiewitz, K. (2017). The search for an elusive cutoff remains: Problems of binary classification of heavy drinking as an endpoint for alcohol clinical trials. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 171, 91-96.
Pearson, M. R., Bravo, A. J., Conner, B. T., & Marijuana Outcomes Study Team (2017). Distinguishing subpopulations of marijuana users with latent profile analysis. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 172, 1-8.
Pearson, M. R., Prince, M. A., & Bravo, A. J. (2017). Moderators of the effects of alcohol protective behavioral strategies: Three attempts of replication and extension. Substance Use & Misuse, 52, 939-949.
Pearson, M. R ., Kholodkov, T., Gray, M. J., & Marijuana Outcomes Study Team (2017). Perceived Importance of Marijuana to the College Experience (PIMCES): Initial Development and Validation. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 78, 319-324.
Pearson, M. R., Liese, B. S., Dvorak, R. D., & Marijuana Outcomes Study Team. (2017). College Student Marijuana Involvement: Perceptions, Use, and Consequences across 11 College Campuses. Addictive Behaviors, 66, 83-89.
Pearson, M. R., Kirouac, M., & Witkiewitz, K. (2016). We still question the utility and validity of the binge/heavy drinking criterion. Addiction, 111, 1733-1734.
Pearson, M. R., Kirouac, M., Witkiewitz, K. (2016). Questioning the validity of the 4+/5+ criterion in college student and clinical populations. Addiction, 111, 1720-1726.
Pearson, M. R., Brown, D. B., Bravo, A. J., & Witkiewitz, K. (2015). Staying in the moment and finding purpose: The predictive effects of trait mindfulness, decentering, and purpose in life on depression, anxiety, and alcohol problems. Mindfulness, 6, 645-653. doi: 10.1007/s12671-014-0300-8
Pearson, M. R., Lawless, A. K., Brown, D. B., & Bravo, A. J. (2015). Mindfulness and emotional outcomes: Identifying subgroups of college students using latent profile analysis. Personality and Individual Differences, 76, 33-38. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2014.11.009
Pearson, M. R. (2013). Use of alcohol protective behavioral strategies among college students: A critical review. Clinical Psychology Review, 33, 1025-1040. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2013.08.006
Pearson, M. R., D'Lima, G. M., & Kelley, M. L. (2013). Daily use of protective behavioral strategies and daily alcohol use/problems. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27, 826-831. doi: 10.1037/a0032516
Research Associate Professor, Department of Psychology