Understanding Trauma, Substance Use, and Suicidal Thoughts in Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Adults
Official title: The Relationship Between Historical Trauma, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation in Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Adults: A Mixed-Methods Approach
Funded at University of Rhode Island · NIH-11093308 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project wants to understand how past traumas, substance use, and thoughts of suicide are connected for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kingston, United States) |
| Project start | May 20, 2024 |
| Project end | May 19, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $52,538 |
| NIH project number | 5F31DA060021-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11093308 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults aged 21 and older who are willing to share their experiences with historical trauma, substance use, and suicidal ideation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander adults, or those under 21, would not be direct participants in this specific research.
What this research studies
This project aims to fill a knowledge gap by focusing specifically on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults, a group often overlooked in research. We will first hold small group discussions to hear directly from community members about their experiences with historical trauma, substance use, and suicidal thoughts. Following these discussions, we will use a larger survey to build a model that shows how these factors are related. This approach ensures the research is guided by community insights, helping us better understand and address these important health concerns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to a better understanding of how historical trauma impacts substance use and suicidal thoughts in Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults, potentially guiding future support programs.
How similar studies have gone: This project is innovative as it aims to build the first comprehensive model of these associations specifically for Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults, utilizing a mixed-methods approach informed by community input.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Egan, Alana — University of Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Egan, Alana
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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.