Developmental Transitions, Social Networks, and Alcohol Use Among Non Four-Year College Emerging Adults

项目总结/摘要 酒精滥用及其后果在成年初期（18至25岁）达到顶峰。 在那些参加四年制大学的人中，这种上升归因于大学环境， 相互作用很大程度上与酗酒有关。然而，缺乏知识来解释 非四年制大学新生中酒精滥用的增加。基于以前的模型，有四个- 一年的大学生，发展里程碑，压力和社交网络是相关的结构，将 考察该K 01提案概述了一个良好的综合研究和培训计划，将使PI（博士）。 Meisel）获得成为独立研究人员的基本技能。该奖项将使 研究人员（a）在未充分研究的人群中发现重要的发育里程碑（即，非 四年制大学新生），（B）学习新的方法（即，被调查者驱动的抽样）， 帮助从这些难以接触到的人群中招募人员，以及（c）利用这一知识来审查 酒精使用，压力，同伴影响和发展里程碑之间的关系。的 建议的研究包括两个阶段：形成性研究阶段和试点研究。定性方法（30 个人访谈）将被用来确定重要的微观层面的里程碑和相关的过渡（即， 离开家，找到工作）。这些采访也将告知 研究人员对（a）酒精和其他物质在日常生活中的作用，（B）压力之间的相互作用， 目标实现和应对策略，（c）同龄人的影响，以及（d）招聘和留住员工的最佳方法 非四年制大学新生。利用从这些访谈中获得的知识， 将使用RDS来识别初始参与者（在RDS中称为种子）。这五颗种子将 完成基线调查，并将获得三张优惠券，以招募他们的非四年制大学同龄人。 将招募多个波，直到达到所需的样本量（N = 100）。后续调查将 由所有参与者在6、12、18和24个月时完成。试点研究的结果将告知我们的 了解这一人群中同伴影响的机制。这项研究将导致 随后的赠款申请将（a）在其他难以接触的人群中使用RDS，以及（B）导致 非四年制大学新生同伴影响中介和调节因素的大规模调查 成年人了PI将与经验丰富、知识渊博的导师团队（Nancy巴内特博士、John Light，Suzanne科尔比，Miles Ott，罗谢尔罗森）掌握与本提案相关的四个培训领域：1） 定性测量，2）非四年制大学新生的发展理论，3）RDS， （4）纵向社会中心网络分析。总的来说，本报告概述的研究和培训活动 K 01奖有助于（a）培养独立的研究科学家和（B）科学知识 在一个未被充分研究和难以接触的人群中。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Alcohol misuse and its consequences peaks during emerging adulthood (the period of life between 18 to 25). Among those attending four-year universities, this rise is attributed to the college environment, where social interactions are largely associated with binge drinking. However, there is a paucity of knowledge that explains the rise in alcohol misuse among non four-year college emerging adults. Based on previous models with four- year college students, developmental milestones, stress, and social networks are relevant constructs that will be examined. This K01 proposal outlines a well-integrated research and training plan that will enable the PI (Dr. Meisel) to acquire the essential skills to become an independent researcher. This award will allow the researcher to (a) uncover important developmental milestones among an understudied population (i.e., non four-year college emerging adults), (b) learn a new methodology (i.e., respondent-driven sampling) that will help recruit individuals from this hard-to-reach population, and (c) use this knowledge to examine the relationship between alcohol use, stress, peer influence, and developmental milestones in this population. The proposed research consists of two stages: a formative research stage and a pilot study. Qualitative methods (30 individual interviews) will be utilized to identify important micro-level milestones and related transitions (i.e., moving away from home, obtaining a job) among this population. These interviews will also inform the researchers on (a) the role of alcohol and other substance use in everyday life, (b) the interplay between stress, goal attainment, and coping strategies, (c) the influence of peers, and (d) best methods to recruit and retain non four-year college emerging adults. Using the knowledge gained from these interviews, respondent-driven sampling (RDS) will be utilized to identify initial participants (termed seeds in RDS). These five seeds will complete the baseline survey and will receive three coupons to recruit their non four-year college peers. Multiple waves will be recruited, until the desired sample size is attained (N = 100). Follow-up surveys will be completed by all participants at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Results of the pilot study will inform our understanding of the mechanisms of peer influence among this population. This research will lead to subsequent grant applications that will (a) utilize RDS in other hard-to-reach populations and (b) lead to a larger scale investigation of mediators and moderators of peer influence among non four-year college emerging adults. The PI will work with an experienced and knowledgeable team of mentors (Drs. Nancy Barnett, John Light, Suzanne Colby, Miles Ott, Rochelle Rosen) to master four areas of training relevant to this proposal: 1) qualitative measurement, 2) developmental theories among non four-year college emerging adults, 3) RDS, and 4) longitudinal sociocentric network analysis. Overall, the research and training activities outlined in this K01 award contributes to (a) the development of an independent research scientist and (b) scientific knowledge in an understudied and hard-to-reach population.