Excessive alcohol use and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are a leading public health concern in the United States. Excessive alcohol consumption is related to nearly $225 billion in economic costs and over 80,000 fatalities annually. Sexual minority youth (SMY; lesbian/gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning [LGBTQ+]) are at heightened risk for mental health symptoms and alcohol use due to their unique experiences as sexual and gender minorities (e.g., discrimination, victimization). Their propensity for excessive alcohol use puts them at greater risk for adverse consequences, including the development of an AUD and alcohol related morbidity and mortality. Both the National Institute of Health and the Institute of Medicine have expressed the need for researchers to address health disparities among sexual minorities. Despite identifying the elevated risk for excessive alcohol use among SMY and young adults, researchers have yet to build a comprehensive picture of how modifiable interpersonal (relationships with peers and parents) and contextual (school climate) factors influence their alcohol use. Consequently, there are large gaps in the available research regarding how indicators of risk and protective factors differ between heterosexual and SMY and among subpopulations of SMY (differentiated by gender, sexual minority status, and race/ethnicity). As such, there are no empirically validated prevention or intervention programs addressing SMY and young adult alcohol use. This National Research Service Award (F32) will provide the applicant with the training and resources necessary to address SMY health disparities, setting the stage for continued work in this area as an emerging scholar. To accomplish career and research goals, the applicant requires training in (1) investigating health disparities among sexual minority populations, (2) etiology and epidemiology of alcohol use within a developmental context, and (3) complex quantitative methodologies testing developmental processes and contextual influences. The training program combines mentored research projects with coursework, workshops, and conferences to enable the applicant to build a strong and influential program of research addressing the modifiable interpersonal and contextual factors that contribute to SMY alcohol use.
Three research aims are addressed in the current application: (1) Identify modifiable interpersonal and contextual risk and protective factors that contribute to SMY and young adult alcohol use; (2) test the influence of modifiable interpersonal and contextual risk and protective factors unique to SMY (e.g., SMY-specific family support, victimization, school climate) that contribute to SMY and young adult alcohol use; and (3) construct a developmental theoretical model of sexual minority alcohol use that will act as the foundation for writing a K01 award that tests these theoretical associations and propositions at later stages of the applicants career.

Public Health Relevance

Excessive alcohol use and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are a leading public health concern in the U.S., and sexual minority youth (lesbian/gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning) are at greater risk for excessive alcohol use than their heterosexual peers. As drinking patterns established in adolescence persist into adulthood, assessing drinking and AUDs in a developmental context is essential. The proposed research program will identify modifiable risk and protective factors across differences in gender, sexual minority status, and race/ethnicity with complementary training goals that will develop the skills necessary to establish a focused career of studying sexual minority health disparities.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32AA023138-01A1
Application #
8834407
Study Section
Neuroscience Review Subcommittee (AA)
Program Officer
Freeman, Robert
Project Start
2015-08-01
Project End
2018-07-31
Budget Start
2015-08-01
Budget End
2016-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Austin
Department
Type
DUNS #
170230239
City
Austin
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78712
Fish, Jessica N; Pollitt, Amanda M; Schulenberg, John E et al. (2018) Measuring alcohol use across the transition to adulthood: Racial/ethnic, sexual identity, and educational differences. Addict Behav 77:193-202
Pollitt, Amanda M; Mallory, Allen B; Fish, Jessica N (2018) Homophobic Bullying and Sexual Minority Youth Alcohol Use: Do Sex and Race/Ethnicity Matter? LGBT Health 5:412-420
Fish, Jessica N; Hughes, Tonda L; Russell, Stephen T (2018) Sexual identity differences in high-intensity binge drinking: findings from a US national sample. Addiction 113:749-758
Fish, Jessica N; Russell, Stephen T (2018) Have Mischievous Responders Misidentified Sexual Minority Youth Disparities in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health? Arch Sex Behav 47:1053-1067
Fish, Jessica N; Rice, Cara E; Lanza, Stephanie T et al. (2018) Is Young Adulthood a Critical Period for Suicidal Behavior among Sexual Minorities? Results from a US National Sample. Prev Sci :
Fish, Jessica N; Hughes, Tonda L (2018) Alcohol Expectancies, Heavy Drinking, and Indicators of Alcohol Use Disorders in a Community-Based Sample of Lesbian and Bisexual Women. LGBT Health 5:105-111
Martin-Storey, Alexa; Fish, Jessica (2018) Victimization Disparities Between Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth From Ages 9 to 15. Child Dev :
Watson, Ryan J; Fish, Jessica N; Allen, Aerielle et al. (2018) Sexual Identity Disclosure and Awareness of HIV Prevention Methods Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men. J Sex Res 55:975-983
Fish, Jessica N; Pollitt, Amanda M; Schulenberg, John E et al. (2017) Alcohol use from adolescence through early adulthood: an assessment of measurement invariance by age and gender. Addiction 112:1495-1507
Fish, Jessica N; Watson, Ryan J; Porta, Carolyn M et al. (2017) Are alcohol-related disparities between sexual minority and heterosexual youth decreasing? Addiction 112:1931-1941

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