Bullying, harassment, and early risky drinking in LGBTQ+ teens
Peer Victimization and Risky Alcohol Use among Sexual Minority Youth: Understanding Mechanisms and Contexts
This project looks at how bullying and sexual harassment relate to early risky drinking among non-heterosexual adolescents so we can find better ways to protect them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261304 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you're a non-heterosexual adolescent, researchers are collecting information about experiences like bullying, sexual harassment, stress, coping, social support, and drinking behaviors over time. The team is extending recruitment and maintaining staff support so they can reach enough young people to produce reliable results. Participants complete surveys and interviews about peer victimization and substance use, and the researchers examine factors that increase risk or help protect against harmful drinking. The aim is to find targets for prevention and support programs to reduce long-term alcohol problems in this community.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Non-heterosexual adolescents and young adults (roughly ages 12–20) who can report on peer victimization and alcohol use and are able to complete surveys or interviews.
Not a fit: Heterosexual youth, older adults, or people without experiences of peer victimization are less likely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide interventions and supports that reduce early risky drinking and its long-term harms for sexual minority youth.
How similar studies have performed: Cross-sectional studies have repeatedly linked peer victimization to substance use in sexual minority youth, but longitudinal and mechanism-focused work like this is less common.
Where this research is happening
Amherst, United States
- State University of New York at Buffalo — Amherst, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hequembourg, Amy L — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Hequembourg, Amy L
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 below.