Disruptive Disorders & STD/HIV Risk in Adolescent Dyads

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究申请的指导研究科学家发展奖的总体目标是获得青少年问题行为和性传播疾病（STD）和人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染风险领域的专业知识。具体而言，在青少年恋爱/性二元组合中，女性成员从事破坏性行为的健康风险行为将在职业发展期间进行探讨。性病和艾滋病毒感染的流行病学研究突出了这一职业发展计划的重要性，在这些研究中，患有破坏性疾病的青少年比例过高。此外，恋爱关系是与不良健康结果（感染性病/艾滋病毒）隐含相关的性关系的组成部分。浪漫的伴侣关系提供了独特的社会影响和控制。因此，这一人群特有的浪漫/性二元关系是研究的重要公共卫生重点。本职业发展建议的具体目标是：1)评估当双组成员表现出行为一致或不一致的风险和保护行为时，双组特定风险行为的作用；2)评估女性成员存在破坏性障碍时的双性个体特定风险行为；3)了解创建干预研究计划所需的关键工具，该计划侧重于对该人群的二元和情境影响。目标1将通过分析从Add Health数据库获得的数据来探讨。目标2将通过一项对恋爱/性伴侣的试点研究进行评估，其中女性成员被诊断患有行为障碍，对立违抗障碍，或参与社区环境中的违法或犯罪活动。目标3将在全国公认的青少年性行为领域专家的指导下进行开发，并在此职业发展计划中进行研究。本研究申请将为R21青少年女性破坏性障碍性病/艾滋病干预研究申请提供依据。此外，这一职业奖项将填补重要的研究空白，为规划未来的干预试验提供关键的科学数据。职业发展计划和监督研究经验将为候选人提供作为独立研究调查员的职业生涯所需的研究技能。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall objective of this research request for a Mentored Research Scientist Development Award is to gain expertise in the area of adolescent problem behavior and risk for infection with sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Specifically, health risk behaviors in adolescent romantic/sexual dyads where the female member of the dyad is engaging in disruptive behaviors will be explored during the career development period. The importance of this career development program is highlighted by epidemiological studies of STD and HIV infection, where adolescents with disruptive disorders are over-represented. Additionally, romantic partnerships are integral to the sexual relationships that are implicitly associated with adverse health outcomes (infection with STD/HIV). Romantic partnerships provide unique types of social influence and controls. Hence, romantic/sexual dyads specific to this population are an important public health focus for research. The specific aims of this career development proposal are 1) to assess the role of dyad specific risk behavior when dyad members exhibit behaviorally concordant or discordant risk and protective behavior; 2) to assess the dyad specific risk behavior when the female member has a disruptive disorder; and 3) to understand the key tools that are needed in the creation of an intervention research program focused on dyadic and contextual influences with this population. Aim 1 will be explored through analyses of data obtained from the Add Health database. Aim 2 will be assessed via a pilot study of romantic/sexual dyads where the female member is diagnosed with conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, or is involved in delinquent or criminal activity within the community setting. Aim 3 will be developed in conjunction with mentorship from nationally recognized experts in the field of adolescent sexuality and the results from research studies conducted in this career development program. This research request will provide the basis for an R21 STD/HIV intervention research application for adolescent females with disruptive disorders. Additionally, this career award will fill an important research gap and provide critical scientific data for planning future intervention trials. The career development plan and supervised research experiences will provide the candidate with the necessary research skills for a career as an independent research investigator.