This Mentored Research Scientist Development application (K01) will provide protected time for Dr. Emily Hennessy to develop a new focused program of research investigating social networks, social identity, and recovery capital as mechanisms of behavior change in adolescents with alcohol use disorders (AUD).
The aims of the 5-year career development plan are tightly integrated and will increase Dr. Hennessy's knowledge and skills in the areas of 1) alcohol-specific recovery processes and trajectories of change; 2) social identity and social network development/change processes for recovery during adolescence to ensure study design, findings, and interpretation are theoretically and empirically grounded; 3) social network and mixed methods study design; and 4) lab management and grantsmanship (e.g., training to write a competitive R01 application). The career development plan includes frequent structured meetings with mentors, coursework and workshop attendance, and dissemination of research findings at conferences and publications. Research activities during the K01 award period include writing systematic reviews of the literature (i.e., manuscript on social network approaches for youth), examination of K01 mentors' secondary datasets (e.g., manuscripts on adult social identity mapping data and on emerging adult social network composition), and conducting the K01 research study (e.g., manuscripts on methods for adapting the SIM approach, qualitative findings from the focus groups, trajectories of social network and identity transitions among youth with AUDs, influence of social network, social identity, and recovery capital on alcohol use outcomes). Findings from the research activities will be disseminated in eight manuscripts submitted to peer-review journals and at relevant conferences. The K01 study is a longitudinal observational study that will utilize a social identity mapping (SIM) approach to examine social network, social identity, and recovery capital change among adolescents in outpatient treatment.
Study aims i nclude: (1) Pre-testing and refining SIM protocols and delivery through pilot data collection and focus groups, (2) Mapping transitions in social networks, social identity, and recovery capital of adolescents with AUDs, and (3) Evaluating the impact of one's social network, social identity, and recovery capital on outcomes among adolescents with AUDs. Drs. John F. Kelly and Blair T. Johnson are the co-primary mentors on this K01 application and both have nationally and internationally recognized expertise in the areas specific to the aims of this application (e.g., treatment and recovery research, social processes of change, primary study design and grantsmanship). Dr. Mark Litt will serve as a co-mentor and Dr. David Best as an other significant contributor supporting and advising the candidate in selected areas (e.g., longitudinal trajectories of AUD, social network influence, recovery capital).
The career development plan includes training in alcohol-specific recovery processes and trajectories of change, social identity and social network change processes for recovery during adolescence, social network and mixed methods study design, and lab management and grantsmanship. The K01 study is a longitudinal observational study that will utilize a social identity mapping (SIM) approach to examine social network, social identity, and recovery capital change among adolescents with AUDs in outpatient treatment. The SIM will be adapted from existing adult implementation models to specifically address adolescent needs and a comprehensive longitudinal model of the effects of adolescents' social network, social identity, and recovery capital on substance use outcomes will be developed.
