YoungBlackmenwhohavesexwithmen(YBMSM)accountforthehighestproportionofnewHIV diagnosesintheUnitedStates.Althoughrecentstudiessuggestthatracialandsexualminoritydiscrimination maycontributetothistrend,minoritystressmodelsdonotfrequentlyaccountfortheintersectionaleffectsof theseformsofdiscriminationamongYBMSM.Asaresult,currentHIVpreventioninterventionsarenot equippedtointerveneuponthestressprocesscausedbyintersectingracialandsexualminoritydiscrimination thatcontributestoHIVrisk.ThisMentoredResearchScientistDevelopmentAward(K01)willsupportthe candidateduringhisupcomingyearsofresearchandtrainingfocusedonexaminingtheroleofintersecting racialandsexualminoritydiscriminationinHIVriskamongYBMSM.Thegoalofthecandidate?sresearchisto testanintersectionalminoritystressmodelthatincorporatesHIV-relevantbiological,psychological,and behavioraloutcomesandindicatorsofstressamongYBMSM.Theresultsofthisstudywillinformthe developmentofanmHealthinterventiontopromoteeffectivecopingtomitigatetheseminoritystresspathways. Toaccomplishthesegoals,thecandidaterequirestrainingandmentorshipinthreeareas:1)assessing biologicalindicatorsofstress;?2)examiningintersectionalminoritystressandHIVriskamongYBMSM;?and3) designingandtestingHIV-focusedmHealthinterventions.Trainingthroughacombinationofmentorship, professionalengagement,coursework,trainings,conferences,andmentoredresearchprojectswilldirectly supportthecandidatetoeffectivelyimplementthespecificresearchaims.Theoverarchingaimsofthe researchprojectsareto:1)Conductatwo-weekEMAstudywith100HIV-negativeYBMSMtoassessthe intersectionofracialandsexualminoritydiscriminationonself-reportedemotiondysregulationand psychologicaldistress,biologicalindicatorsofstress,andbehavioralHIVrisk;?2)Testanintersectionalminority stressmodelwiththeEMAdatathatexaminestwohypotheses:a)emotiondysregulationmediates associationsfromintersectingdiscriminationtopsychologicaldistressandbehavioralHIVrisk;?b)coping moderatesthenegativeimpactofintersectingdiscriminationonpsychologicaldistress,biologicalindicatorsof stress,andbehavioralHIVrisk;?and3)UtilizeevidencefromAims1and2todesignandpilotanmHealth interventiontomitigatethenegativeimpactsofintersectingracialandsexualminoritydiscriminationonHIV riskandpreventionamongYBMSM.Together,theseresearchprojectswilladdressessentialquestionsabout theroleofintersectingracialandsexualminoritydiscriminationinHIVriskamongYBMSM,identifymodifiable targetsforintervention,andexaminepreliminaryfeasibility,acceptability,andeffectestimatesofanovel mHealthinterventiontoaddressthesetargets.Thetrainingandresearchplanwillaidthecandidatetodevelop intoanindependentmultidisciplinaryinvestigatorfocusedoncreatinginnovativeandhigh-impactinterventions toreducepersistentHIVinequitiesforYBMSM.
. Given the overwhelming burden of HIV among young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in the United States, there is a need for innovative, culturally-relevant, and accessible interventions to reduce their HIV risk. The present research is designed to test an intersectional minority stress model that examines the psychological, biological and behavioral effects of intersecting racial and sexual minority discrimination on HIV risk among YBMSM. The goal of this research is to develop and pilot an mHealth intervention that promotes effective coping and reduces the negative impact of intersecting racial and sexual minority discrimination on HIV inequities among YBMSM.
