Wednesday, May 1, 2024
5/1/2024
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) account for the highest proportion of new HIV diagnoses in the United States. Although recent studies suggest that racial and sexual minority discrimination may contribute to this trend, minority stress models do not frequently account for the intersectional effects of these forms of discrimination among YBMSM. As a result, current HIV prevention interventions are not equipped to intervene upon the stress process caused by intersecting racial and sexual minority discrimination that contributes to HIV risk. This Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) will support the candidate during his upcoming years of research and training focused on examining the role of intersecting racial and sexual minority discrimination in HIV risk among YBMSM. The goal of the candidate’s research is to test an intersectional minority stress model that incorporates HIV-relevant biological, psychological, and behavioral outcomes and indicators of stress among YBMSM. The results of this study will inform the development of an mHealth intervention to promote effective coping to mitigate these minority stress pathways. To accomplish these goals, the candidate requires training and mentorship in three areas: 1) assessing biological indicators of stress;; 2) examining intersectional minority stress and HIV risk among YBMSM;; and 3) designing and testing HIV-focused mHealth interventions. Training through a combination of mentorship, professional engagement, coursework, trainings, conferences, and mentored research projects will directly support the candidate to effectively implement the specific research aims. The overarching aims of the research projects are to: 1) Conduct a two-week EMA study with 100 HIV-negative YBMSM to assess the intersection of racial and sexual minority discrimination on self-reported emotion dysregulation and psychological distress, biological indicators of stress, and behavioral HIV risk;; 2) Test an intersectional minority stress model with the EMA data that examines two hypotheses: a) emotion dysregulation mediates associations from intersecting discrimination to psychological distress and behavioral HIV risk;; b) coping moderates the negative impact of intersecting discrimination on psychological distress, biological indicators of stress, and behavioral HIV risk;; and 3) Utilize evidence from Aims 1 and 2 to design and pilot an mHealth intervention to mitigate the negative impacts of intersecting racial and sexual minority discrimination on HIV risk and prevention among YBMSM. Together, these research projects will address essential questions about the role of intersecting racial and sexual minority discrimination in HIV risk among YBMSM, identify modifiable targets for intervention, and examine preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and effect estimates of a novel mHealth intervention to address these targets. The training and research plan will aid the candidate to develop into an independent multidisciplinary investigator focused on creating innovative and high-impact interventions to reduce persistent HIV inequities for YBMSM.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
