Maria Testa

Dr. Maria Testa, Ph.D., is a distinguished Research Scientist Emeritus specializing in social psychology at the Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo. With an extensive career spanning several decades, Dr. Testa’s research has significantly contributed to our understanding of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, college drinking behavior, and women's sexual health. Her work is widely recognized for its methodological rigor, theoretical contributions, and public health relevance. Dr. Testa’s primary research agenda focuses on the proximal effects of substance use—specifically alcohol and marijuana—on relationship functioning and aggression within intimate partnerships. Her studies, which frequently utilize daily diary and ecological momentary assessment methods, reveal that episodes of substance use are temporally linked to increased risk of partner aggression. However, she also identifies nuances in substance-related dynamics, such as findings suggesting that shared substance use can enhance intimacy and positive relational experiences in some contexts. A substantial portion of her work addresses the intersection of alcohol use and sexual assault on college campuses. Through both cross-sectional surveys and longitudinal daily process methodologies, Dr. Testa has explored how drinking contributes to sexual victimization and aggression among college-aged individuals. Her findings highlight the complex social and psychological mechanisms involved in alcohol-related sexual encounters and serve as the basis for intervention development. In her recent work, Dr. Testa developed a personalized normative feedback intervention aimed at reducing sexual victimization among college freshman women by addressing attitudes and behaviors related to drinking and hookups. This project illustrates her commitment to translating empirical findings into actionable public health strategies. Dr. Testa has led or collaborated on numerous groundbreaking research projects, including investigations into adolescent peer victimization and its pathway to substance use, men’s alcohol use and sexual aggression, and the acute impact of alcohol on couples’ communication and conflict. These studies have employed diverse methodologies, from experimental alcohol administration paradigms to real-time data collection through daily diary studies, offering rich insights into behavioral dynamics and risk factors. Her collaboration on the development of video vignettes for measuring risk perception in alcohol-related sexual assault situations reflects her innovative approach to improving sexual assault prevention and education. She has also contributed to research addressing alcohol-related HIV risk behaviors and STD prevention, focusing particularly on women undergoing alcohol treatment. Dr. Testa’s research contributions are both scholarly and socially impactful, addressing critical public health issues with a deep commitment to improving interpersonal relationships and reducing harm through evidence-based interventions. Her work continues to inform university-level prevention programs, healthcare practices, and public health policies aimed at curbing intimate partner violence, sexual victimization, and substance-related risk behaviors.