Neighborhood characteristics, drug use, and HIV risk among African American youth

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案旨在测试由首席研究员开发的概念框架，该框架旨在研究城市非洲裔美国青年中社区风险、边缘化、种族认同和艾滋病毒风险之间的关系。对非裔美国青年的定性研究用绝望和无法控制生活结果的感觉来描述边缘化。这些对边缘化的认知导致许多年轻人采取了主流标准所不符合的规范和态度，包括对危险行为（例如，批准药物使用）的不符合常规的态度。种族认同也被认为是非裔美国青年发展的一个重要因素。因此，种族认同可能影响边缘化观念与青年非传统态度和艾滋病毒风险之间的关系。本研究旨在1)调查感知邻里风险（即社区暴力暴露和城市纠纷经历）与艾滋病毒风险行为（物质使用和性风险）之间的关系。2)研究感知邻里风险和艾滋病毒风险行为在多大程度上受边缘化感知（即绝望和低自我效能感）和非传统态度（即批准物质使用）的调节。3)评估种族身份是否调节边缘化感知与非传统态度之间的关系。将使用结构方程模型（SEM）和NIDA资助的横截面数据集进行二次数据分析。样本包括567名年龄在13-19岁的非裔美国青年，他们在马里兰州的一所城市公立高中就读。研究结果将增加我们对非裔美国城市青年中物质使用和性风险行为的开始和发展的理解。这些知识可以为针对这一人群制定有效的艾滋病毒行为预防和干预措施提供信息。该提案旨在测试由首席研究员开发的概念框架，该框架研究了城市非洲裔美国青年中社区风险、边缘化、种族认同和艾滋病毒风险之间的关系。研究结果将增加我们对非裔美国城市青年中物质使用和性风险行为的开始和发展的理解。这项研究的结果可以为艾滋病预防项目做出贡献，这些项目可以实现美国卫生和人类服务部健康人2010倡议的目标，即消除与艾滋病相关的健康差距。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal seeks to test a conceptual framework developed by the Principal Investigator examining the relationship between neighborhood risk, marginalization, racial identity, and HIV risk among urban African American youth. Qualitative studies of African American youth describe marginalization in terms hopelessness and not feeling in control of the outcomes in one's life. These perceptions of marginalization, led many youth to adopt norms and attitudes that are unconventional by mainstream standards, including unconventional attitudes about risk behaviors (e.g., approval of substance use). Racial identity has also been identified as an important factor in African American youth development. Therefore, racial identity may influence how perceptions of marginalization are related to youth unconventional attitudes and HIV risk. The proposed research aims to 1) investigate the relationship between perceived neighborhood risk (i.e., exposure to community violence and experience with urban hassles) and HIV risk behaviors (substance use and sexual risk). 2) To examine the extent to which perceived neighborhood risk and HIV risk behaviors is mediated by perceptions of marginalization (i.e., hopelessness and low self-efficacy) and having unconventional attitudes (i.e., approval of substance use). 3) To assess whether racial identity moderates the relationship between perceptions of marginalization and unconventional attitudes. Secondary data analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with a NIDA funded cross-sectional dataset will be used. The sample includes 567 African American youth, ages 13-19 years, enrolled at an urban public high school in Maryland. Findings will increase our understanding of the initiation and progression of substance use and sexual risk behaviors among urban African American youth. Such knowledge could inform the development of effective HIV behavioral prevention and intervention efforts targeting this population. This proposal seeks to test a conceptual framework developed by the Principal Investigator examining the relationship between neighborhood risk, marginalization, racial identity, and HIV risk among urban African American youth. Findings will increase our understanding of the initiation and progression of substance use and sexual risk behaviors among urban African American youth. Results from this study could make a contribution to HIV prevention programs that address the goals of the US Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2010 initiative to eliminate health disparities related to HIV.