Behavioral health and resilience of Venezuelan families in the U.S. and Colombia
Official title: The Behavioral Health of Venezuelan Families in Diaspora: A Cross-National Study of Migration-Related Stress and Resilience
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11455254 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how migration-related stress affects depression and alcohol use among Venezuelan parents and adolescents living in the United States and Colombia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | June 7, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $60,687 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MD015920-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11455254 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Venezuelan parents and adolescents (including around 12-year-olds and older teens) who have migrated and now live in the U.S. or Colombia.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not of Venezuelan descent or who have not experienced migration-related stress are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific project.
What this research studies
You would be asked about your migration experiences, family life, mood, and alcohol use through interviews or questionnaires. The team will enroll Venezuelan parents and youth and compare findings from families living in the U.S. with families living in Colombia. Researchers will analyze how stress from migration relates to family functioning and, in turn, to depression and alcohol misuse, while also measuring protective factors that may buffer harm. Results will be used to inform supports and services tailored to Venezuelan families facing high stress.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to specific family- and community-based supports to reduce depression and alcohol misuse among Venezuelan families.
How similar studies have gone: This work builds on small formative cross-sectional studies that flagged depression and alcohol misuse as concerns, but a large cross-national study like this is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maldonado-Molina, Mildred M — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Maldonado-Molina, Mildred M
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.