Reducing stress-related drinking and improving HIV self-care for young people
Defining intervention targets along pathways from cumulative stress and trauma to alcohol and HIV self-management among young people living with HIV (Project DEFINE)
This project looks at ways to help young people with HIV manage stress, sleep, emotions, and decision-making so they drink less and stick with HIV care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tallahassee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173780 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked about your life stress, trauma, alcohol use, sleep, and how you handle emotions and decisions. The team will combine surveys, sleep measures, cognitive tests, and medical records to map how stress leads to drinking and poorer HIV self-care. They aim to find specific, changeable points (like sleep or emotion regulation) where new supports could help. Results will guide future programs tailored to the needs of young people living with HIV.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young people living with HIV—especially adolescents and young adults who use alcohol or have a history of stress or trauma—are the ideal candidates for this work.
Not a fit: Older adults with HIV or people without alcohol use or significant stress/trauma are less likely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to targeted programs that reduce hazardous drinking and improve medication adherence and viral control among young people with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research links stress, sleep, emotion regulation, and substance use to HIV outcomes, but combining these factors in a developmentally focused approach for young people is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Tallahassee, United States
- Florida State University — Tallahassee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nichols, Sharon L — Florida State University
- Study coordinator: Nichols, Sharon 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.