This competing continuation application builds on our past research on multigenerational drug use among mothers and daughters by distinguishing between different stages of drug involvement, including resistance to involvement, initiation, continuation or discontinuation, escalation or resistance to escalation, dependence, cessation, and relapse. The approach will allow for the identification of factors which determine an individual's susceptibility and resistance at each stage of drug involvement from the users' perspective. The proposed research also builds on our past work by including of a nested-family approach, which will allow for an exploration of the family domain and gender. Finally, we will supplement the predominantly qualitative data collection with quantitative measures.
The specific aims of the proposed study are: (1) to examine the developmental progression of drug involvement among young adult cocaine users (the probands) and two of their first-degree relatives, including factors motivating and hindering the transition between stages of involvement; (2) to identify familial patterns of substance use among young adult cocaine users and their first-degree relatives; and (3) to explore the medical consequences of drug abuse among the probands and their first-degree relatives. The study sample will consist of 360 individuals: (120 probands, 120 biological parents, and 120 biological siblings). The data collection includes a limited quantitative component and a qualitative, in-depth interview. Quantitative assessments will cover demographic characteristics, family characteristics, lifetime and recent drug use, HIV/AIDS and hepatits B and C risk behaviors, substance abuse and selected psychiatric disorders. The interview guide will cover domains such as family of origin, family tree, life stages --including early years, childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, drug use --including tobacco and alcohol and with a focus on the drug use career trajectory, and health --including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and mental health, specifically anxiety, antisocial personality disorder, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder). Qualitative data analysis involves grounded theory and quantitative analyses includes descriptive statistics, least square analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The proposed study contributes to the research on the origins and multiple pathways to drug abuse and of factors (individual and familial) which may determine susceptibility and resistance at the various stages of drug involvement.
| Depadilla, Lara; Perkins, Molly M; Elifson, Kirk W et al. (2012) Adult criminal involvement: A cross-sectional inquiry into correlates and mechanisms over the life course. Crim Justice Rev 37: |
| Sterk, Claire E; Klein, Hugh; Elifson, Kirk W (2011) The Relationship between Sexual Coping and the Frequency of Sexual Risk among 'At Risk' African American Women. Womens Health Urban Life 10:56-80 |
| Elifson, Kirk W; Klein, Hugh; Sterk, Claire E (2010) Predictors of Unsafe Sex among At-Risk Heterosexual Women. Womens Health Urban Life 9:80-106 |
| Perkins, Molly; Elifson, Kirk W; Sterk, Claire E (2010) DRUG RISK: A CROSS-SECTIONAL EXPLORATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF FAMILY-OF-ORIGIN AND CURRENT SITUATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. J Drug Issues 40:353-378 |
| Theall, Katherine P; Sterk, Claire E; Elifson, Kirk W (2009) Perceived neighborhood fear and drug use among young adults. Am J Health Behav 33:353-65 |
| Klein, Hugh; Elifson, Kirk W; Sterk, Claire E (2008) Depression and HIV risk behavior practices among at risk women. Women Health 48:167-88 |
| Sterk, Claire E; Elifson, Kirk W; Theall, Katherine P (2007) Individual action and community context: the Health Intervention Project. Am J Prev Med 32:S177-81 |
| Klein, Hugh; Elifson, Kirk W; Sterk, Claire E (2007) Childhood neglect and adulthood involvement in HIV-related risk behaviors. Child Abuse Negl 31:39-53 |
| Klein, Hugh; Elifson, Kirk W; Sterk, Claire E (2006) Predictors of suicidal ideation among ""at risk"" cocaine-using African American women. Suicide Life Threat Behav 36:336-48 |
| Sterk, Claire E; Klein, Hugh; Elifson, Kirk W (2004) Predictors of condom-related attitudes among at-risk women. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 13:676-88 |
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