Disruptive Disorders & STD/HIV Risk in Adolescent Dyads

描述(由申请人提供)：本研究申请导师研究科学家发展奖的总体目标是获得青少年问题行为领域的专业知识，以及感染性传播疾病(STD)和人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)的风险。具体地说，将在职业发展期间探索青少年浪漫/性二元组中女性成员从事破坏性行为的健康危险行为。对性传播疾病和艾滋病毒感染的流行病学研究突显了这一职业发展计划的重要性，在这些研究中，患有破坏性障碍的青少年比例过高。此外，浪漫的伙伴关系对于与不良健康后果(感染性病/艾滋病毒)隐含相关的性关系是不可或缺的。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/性二元是一个重要的公共卫生研究重点。这份职业发展提案的具体目标是1)评估当二元组成员表现出行为协调或不协调的风险和保护性行为时二元组特定风险行为的作用；2)评估当女性成员有破坏性障碍时二元组特定风险行为；以及3)了解在创建专注于对这一人群的二元组和背景影响的干预研究计划时所需的关键工具。将通过分析从Add Health数据库获得的数据来探索目标1。目标2将通过对浪漫/性二元的试点研究进行评估，其中女性成员被诊断为品行障碍、对立违抗障碍或参与社区环境中的犯罪或犯罪活动。AIM 3将与国家公认的青春期性行为领域专家的指导以及在这一职业发展方案中进行的研究结果一起制定。这项研究请求将为R21 STD/HIV干预研究应用于患有破坏性障碍的青春期女性提供基础。此外，这一职业奖项将填补一个重要的研究空白，并为规划未来的干预试验提供关键的科学数据。职业发展计划和受监督的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.