Understanding how minority stress affects cannabis use in sexual minorities
Official title: Using EMA to Examine Minority Stress Mechanisms Underlying Cannabis Use among Sexual Minorities
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11544966 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project follows young adult sexual minorities to see how daily stress and coping help explain cannabis use and related problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00DA057994-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11544966 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young adult sexual minorities who use cannabis.
✕Less likely to help
If you do not experience minority stress or identify as a sexual minority, this study may not directly benefit you.
What this research studies
This project examines how minority stress experiences influence cannabis use and negative outcomes among young adult sexual minorities. It uses a longitudinal approach to identify psychological and cognitive pathways that link stress to cannabis-related problems. The study aims to pinpoint daily experiences and mechanisms that could become targets for prevention and healthier coping strategies. Results could guide tailored interventions to reduce cannabis use harm in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better, more targeted prevention and support for sexual minorities who use cannabis could reduce risk of harmful outcomes like cannabis use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research supports minority-stress pathways for some substances; this study aims to extend those findings to cannabis.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parnes, Jamie — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Parnes, Jamie
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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.