Risk and Protective Factors for Multiracial Alcohol and Other Drug Use: A Mixed Methods Approach

项目总结/摘要 多种族年轻人（18-25岁之间的多种族个体），报告 酒精和其他药物（AOD）使用率高于所有其他单一药物组。缺乏研究 研究了与多种族个体使用AOD相关的风险和保护因素。缺乏研究 现有的研究已经应用了为单一种族人群设计的框架来研究多种族个体， 少数研究发现了与多种族个体使用AOD显著相关的因素。本研究 通过采用直接涉及多种族个体的方法来改进有限的现有研究 通过顺序混合的方法来了解他们的AOD使用。本研究的具体目的是：（1） 进行焦点小组，以建立在多种族的年轻人使用AOD深入了解和（2） 建立一个模型，通过社区投入和定性分析，确定风险和保护因素 与多种族年轻人使用AOD相关，并进行定量研究以测试模型。的 应用是重要的，因为我们将揭示与高比率的AOD使用之间的相关因素， 多种族年轻成年人的边缘化人口，这将为减少AOD相关健康的干预措施提供信息 差距。这是创新的，因为我们将利用混合方法的方法，系统地建立一个 多种族年轻人使用AOD的社区知情模型。拟议的研究将于 在两个综合研究中使用顺序混合方法。研究1将进行3-5个焦点小组， 每组多种族参与者（n = 20-30），他们将探索与多种族年轻人使用AOD相关的因素。 半结构化的面试。研究2将利用研究1中发现的主题来指导 测量选择，并使用结构方程模型（SEM）分析（n = 120- 168）。调查结果将提供一个有用的框架，以更好地了解不成比例的高利率， 在多种族人群中使用AOD。根据NIDA战略计划，调查结果将揭示 环境，社会和其他原因的AOD使用之间的多种族的年轻人，并提供信息， 有针对性干预措施，以治疗和预防有问题的AOD使用，并减少相关的健康差距 在这个不断增长的高风险人群中。该项目还将为首席研究员提供至关重要的 在混合方法研究、赠款、传播研究结果、建立网络、 指导和进行道德研究。罗得岛大学的研究环境包括 办公空间，技术和赠款支持，沿着优秀的赞助商和顾问， 相关内容领域和混合方法研究，提供理想的环境和指导， 成功实施拟议项目。该项目将是至关重要的研究培训机会， 申请人未来的职业生涯作为一个独立的学术研究，这将涉及研究与 边缘化和未得到充分研究的人群，需要对其进行定量和定性研究。

Project Summary/Abstract Multiracial young adults (individuals identifying as more than one race and between ages 18–25), report alcohol and other drug (AOD) use rates that are higher than all other monoracial groups. A dearth of research has examined risk and protective factors related to AOD use among multiracial individuals. The scant research that exists has applied frameworks designed for monoracial populations to study multiracial individuals, and few studies have found factors that are significantly related to AOD use in multiracial individuals. This study improves upon the limited existing research by taking an approach that directly involves multiracial individuals through sequential mixed methods to understand their AOD use. The specific aims of this study are to: (1) conduct focus groups to establish an in-depth understanding of AOD use in multiracial young adults and (2) build a model, informed by community input and qualitative analysis, identifying risk and protective factors associated with AOD use in multiracial young adults and conduct a quantitative study to test the model. The application is significant in that we will uncover factors associated with the high rates of AOD use among a marginalized population of multiracial young adults that will inform interventions to reduce AOD-related health disparities. It is innovative because we will utilize a mixed methods approach to systematically build a community informed model of AOD use among multiracial young adults. The proposed study will be completed in two integrated studies using sequential mixed methods. Study 1 will conduct 3–5 focus groups with 4–8 multiracial participants per group (n = 20–30) who will explore factors related to AOD use in multiracial young adults through semi-structured interviews. Study 2 will utilize the themes uncovered from Study 1 to guide measure selection and build and test a model using structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis (n = 120– 168). Findings will provide a useful framework for better understanding the disproportionately high rates of AOD use among multiracial individuals. As aligned with the NIDA strategic plan, findings will uncover environmental, social, and other causes of AOD use among multiracial young adults and provide information to target interventions to treat and prevent problematic AOD use as well as reduce related health disparities among this growing and high-risk population. The project will also provide the principal investigator vital training and experience in mixed methodology research, grantsmanship, dissemination of findings, networking, mentoring, and conducting ethical research. The research environment at University of Rhode Island including office space, technology, and grant support, along with excellent sponsors and consultants with expertise in relevant content areas and mixed methodology research, provide the ideal setting and mentorship to successfully conduct the proposed project. This project would be vital as a research training opportunity for the applicant’s future career as an independent academic researcher, which will involve research with marginalized and understudied populations for which both quantitative and qualitative research are necessary.