Underage alcohol use is a priority public health problem, but data about why autistic youth drink or abstain are lacking. Moreover, too little is known about how mental and behavioral phenotypes contribute to alcohol-related behavior and outcomes for autistic youth. This project will expand on the work proposed in the parent grant (R21AA027844) by using the Underage Alcohol Use by Autistic Youth data (n=95 autistic youth) to identify subpopulations of autistic youth that are at risk for underage drinking and its associated consequences. The long-term goal of this line of research is to identify potential targets for intervention to improve the alcohol use-related health of autistic individuals. In the first aim of this project, the post-doctoral level research candidate seeks to characterize alcohol use (e.g. age of drinking onset, frequency of alcohol use, and types of alcohol consumed), motives for drinking, and reasons for not drinking.
In Aim 2, we will assess whether particular psychiatric comorbidities, and social responsiveness, are associated with alcohol use patterns and negative alcohol-related outcomes.
In Aim 3, we will assess the association between camouflaging autistic traits and negative alcohol-related outcomes, and whether mental health symptomology (e.g. depression, anxiety, loneliness) mediate those associations. This supplement will also support Dr. Calliope Holingue in her development as an independent investigator focused on studying the health-related needs of neurodiverse individuals with an emphasis on alcohol use-related health needs. Dr. Holingue has a strong emerging interest in integrating alcohol research into her work, given the multiple relationships between alcohol use, physical, mental, and behavioral health, but has not yet engaged in research on alcohol use in this population. Postdoctoral research at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) is the logical next step toward fulfilling her long- term goal of making contributions to the science on alcohol use among young adults with autism. She will be supported by a multidisciplinary research team of established researchers at Boston University, three of whom have served as PIs on prior NIAAA research grants and are thus ideally prepared to provide mentorship. Mentors include primary PI Dr. Rothman (alcohol use in autism), Dr. Xuan (statistical analyses), Dr. Saitz (underage alcohol use), Dr. Broder- Fingert (autism research) and Dr. Bair-Merritt (adolescent health). Over the course of the 15- month training period, Dr. Holingue will analyze data, write manuscripts and draft her own K01 grant on substance use and autism, activities which are critical to her preparation in becoming as an independent scientist studying the health-related needs of neurodiverse individuals.
The diversity supplement candidate will expand upon the research of the parent grant R21AA02784 by conducting additional analyses of data collected from autistic youth about alcohol use. The candidate will assess which subgroups of autistic youth may be at higher risk of alcohol risk behavior. She will receive mentorship from experienced and NIAAA-funded researchers and develop her own K01 grant proposal on substance use and autism.
