Prevention and Health Behavior
Current Grants
A Collaborative System Approach for the Diffusion of Evidence-Based Prevention
Gilbert J. Botvin, Ph.D., PI; Kenneth W. Griffin, Ph.D., M.P.H., co-Investigator; Madhuvanti M. Murphy, Dr.P.H., co-Investigator
National Institute on Drug Abuse/National Institutes of Health
9/30/2008-6/30/2013
The ultimate goal of the proposed research is to provide critical new knowledge to facilitate the widespread dissemination, adoption, implementation, and sustained utilization of evidence-based prevention in order to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug abuse throughout the United States.
Adolescent Alcohol Use and Young Adult Psychosocial Functioning
Kenneth W. Griffin, Ph.D., M.P.H., PI; Gilbert J. Botvin, Ph.D., co-Investigator; Heejung Bang, Ph.D., co-Investigator
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism/National Institutes of Health
2/01/2009-1/31/2011
A central goal of the study is to examine how alcohol use during early adolescence affects subsequent alcohol and drug use/abuse, negative consequences of use, related risk behaviors, and other indicators of psychosocial adjustment during late adolescence and the transition to young adulthood.
Adolescent Computer and Electronic Game Use
Jennifer Epstein, Ph.D., PI
National Science Foundation
9/1/2009-8/31/2010
The goal of the study is to examine the computer use and electronic game use among adolescents to discover their benefits and negative consequences, including their relationship with health behaviors.
Enhancing Implementation Fidelity in a Multi-Site Trial
Gilbert J. Botvin, Ph.D., PI; Kenneth W. Griffin, Ph.D., M.P.H., co-Investigator; Madhuvanti M. Murphy, Dr.P.H., co-Investigator & Project Director
National Institute on Drug Abuse/National Institutes of Health
9/30/2001-6/30/2010
Advances in drug abuse prevention have led to the development of effective research-based prevention programs that have been shown in rigorous evaluation studies to prevent the onset and escalation of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs during adolescence. Dissemination initiatives by NIDA and other federal agencies have gradually increased the adoption and implementation of evidence-based programs. Yet, relatively little is known about how to best surmount the many barriers to effective implementation, appropriate adaptation, and maintenance. This study consists of a 5-year multi-site prevention field trial to address critical issues related to implementation fidelity, adaptation, and institutionalization of
the Life Skills Training (LST) program, a rigorously tested school-based prevention program identified as an exemplary or model program by multiple federal agencies and currently the most widely disseminated evidence-based program for middle school students.
Long-Term Effects of a School-Based Drug Abuse Prevention Program Previously Delivered to Urban Minority Youth Attending New York City Middle Schools
Kenneth W. Griffin, Ph.D., M.P.H., PI; Gilbert J. Botvin, Ph.D., co-Investigator
National Institute on Drug Abuse/National Institutes of Health
09/15/2007 – 08/31/2010
This grant will examine the long-term effects of a school-based drug abuse prevention program previously delivered to urban minority youth attending New York City middle schools. The study will focus on a sample of approximately 3500 young adults ages 21 to 23 who participated in a randomized prevention trial during their early teens. In addition to testing the long-term effects of the prevention program on alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use among the participants as youth adults, the study will test whether the effects generalize to a variety of sexual risk behaviors.
Study of Women’s Health in Qatar: Examining the Physical, Biological, Psychological and Social Changes in Women in Their Middle Years
Madhuvanti M. Murphy, Dr.P.H., co-Investigator (PI: Linda Gerber, Ph.D.)
Qatar National Research Fund
09/01/2009 – 06/30/2012
This is a three-year study designed to assess the experiences and issues surrounding menopause in Qatari women, using qualitative and quantitative methods.
Recent Grants
Indicators of Suicidal Behaviors Using National Adolescent Samples
Jennifer Epstein, Ph.D., PI
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
9/1/2006-8/31/2008
The key aim of this study is to examine the relationship between indicators of suicidal behaviors (i.e., self-reported suicidal ideation and suicide attempts) and risk behaviors (e.g., alcohol use and ) among national samples of high school students surveyed in 2005 and before for the overall sample and within gender groups, and also to compare how the indicators and risk factors have changed over time and differ between gender groups.
