The major objectives of the proposed Pathway to Independence Award are the acceleration and completion of Dr. Amelia Talley's training in alcohol-related research and the launching of her career as an independent scientist with a tenure-track assistant professor position. Dr. Talley is a psychologist and a postdoctoral fellow on an NIAAA T32 training grant at the University of Missouri (MU). The 2-year K99 Phase will complete Dr. Talley's training in the examination of patterns of alcohol use during emerging adulthood, with an emphasis on sexual minority populations and the associated motivational determinants of alcohol involvement. With supervision, Dr. Talley will: (c) complete adaptation of a measure of sexual self-concept conflict; (b) examine patterns and motivational determinates of alcohol use behaviors among women evidencing sexual self-concept conflict; (c) attend courses, workshops, and conferences related to alcohol use and misuse, qualitative and advanced quantitative data analysis, identity formation, and professional development issues; and (d) pilot all experimental procedures and materials. Dr. Talley will also dedicate a portion of her time to the dissemination of research findings through manuscript preparation and submission, consultation with experts on alcohol and sexual minority substance use, and preparation of materials for a national job search. The proposed mentor, Dr. Sher, and consultants, Drs. Wood, Steinley, Bartholow, Hughes & Diamond are experts in college drinking, longitudinal statistical modeling, multivariate statistical modeling, alcohol administration methodology, female sexual minority substance use, and female sexual identity development, respectively. MU is a world-class research institution, with the resources necessary to complete the aims of the K99. The 3-year ROO Phase will allow Dr. Talley to (a) conduct a series of experimental studies examining moderators of the relation between sexual self-concept conflict and alcohol consumption (b) establish her laboratory (c) continue preparation and dissemination of research findings, and (d) submit an R01 to NIAAA. This study extends Dr. Talley's research on sexual minority substance use behaviors to investigate (a) the role of sexual self-concept conflict in determining etiology and course of alcohol use behaviors among women and (b) explanatory variables that may account for alcohol use behaviors among women who report sexual self-concept conflict. Study findings will provide pilot data for Dr. Talley's R01 submission. The current aims are also in-line with NIAAA's (2005) expressed desire to further research with a broader representation of LGBT individuals to improve services and outcomes in the prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse among LGBT individuals.

Public Health Relevance

Relevance Briefly, the proposed research project can help researchers and clinicians better understand how the process of sexual questioning may contribute to heightened alcohol involvement for women who acknowledge inconsistent or unstable beliefs about their own sexual orientation. This information can be used to design interventions to better address problem drinking among subgroups of women during emerging adulthood.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Transition Award (R00)
Project #
5R00AA019974-05
Application #
8912955
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Program Officer
Freeman, Robert
Project Start
2011-09-20
Project End
2017-02-28
Budget Start
2015-09-01
Budget End
2017-02-28
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Texas Tech University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041367053
City
Lubbock
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
79409
Hancock, David W; Talley, Amelia E; Bohanek, Jennifer et al. (2018) Sexual Orientation Self-Concept Ambiguity and Alcohol Use Disorder Symptomology: The Roles of Motivated Psychological Distancing and Drinking to Cope. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 79:96-101
Talley, Amelia E; Cook, Mackenzie A; Schroy, Catherine A (2017) Motivations and Experiences Related to Women's First Same-sex Sexual Encounters. Psychol Sex 8:132-147
Talley, Amelia E; Stevens, Jordan E (2017) Sexual Orientation Self-Concept Ambiguity: Scale Adaptation and Validation. Assessment 24:632-645
Talley, Amelia E; Brown, Sarah L; Cukrowicz, Kelly et al. (2016) Sexual Self-Concept Ambiguity and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide Risk. Suicide Life Threat Behav 46:127-40
Talley, Amelia E; Gilbert, Paul A; Mitchell, Jason et al. (2016) Addressing gaps on risk and resilience factors for alcohol use outcomes in sexual and gender minority populations. Drug Alcohol Rev 35:484-93
Brown, Jennifer L; Talley, Amelia E; Littlefield, Andrew K et al. (2016) Young women's alcohol expectancies for sexual risk-taking mediate the link between sexual enhancement motives and condomless sex when drinking. J Behav Med 39:925-30
Everett, Bethany G; Talley, Amelia E; Hughes, Tonda L et al. (2016) Sexual Identity Mobility and Depressive Symptoms: A Longitudinal Analysis of Moderating Factors Among Sexual Minority Women. Arch Sex Behav 45:1731-44
Parent, Mike C; Talley, Amelia E; Schwartz, Esther N et al. (2015) I Want Your Sex: The Role of Sexual Exploration in Fostering Positive Sexual Self-Concepts for Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Women. Psychol Sex Orientat Gend Divers 2:199-204
Talley, Amelia E; Aranda, Frances; Hughes, Tonda L et al. (2015) Longitudinal Associations among Discordant Sexual Orientation Dimensions and Hazardous Drinking in a Cohort of Sexual Minority Women. J Health Soc Behav 56:225-45
Talley, Amelia E; Hughes, Tonda L; Aranda, Frances et al. (2014) Exploring alcohol-use behaviors among heterosexual and sexual minority adolescents: intersections with sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Am J Public Health 104:295-303

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