# Effects of overlapping Pandemics on Coping and behavioral Health among young adults affected by HIV (EPOCH-HIV)

> **NIH NIH R21** · NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC · 2022 · $239,850

## Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically disrupted everyday life for many young people, including young adults
who have grown up with perinatally-acquired HIV (YAPHIV). YAPHIV were vulnerable to poor health outcomes
(mental illness, substance use, low rates of viral suppression) before the pandemic due to the multifaceted impact
of HIV, racism, and poverty. YA who were perinatally HIV-exposed, but uninfected (YAPHEU) have grown up in
similar vulnerable communities, but often without the same access to services as YAPHIV. In this R21, we will
examine the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic On Coping and behavioral Health among young adults affected
by HIV (EPOCH-HIV) in order to inform care and interventions that address behavioral health problems and HIV
treatment and prevention for Black and Latinx YA affected by HIV. Leveraging resources from a longitudinal
cohort of YAPHIV and YAPHEU (CASAH; R01-MH69133), and our collaboration with the Northeast/Caribbean
AIDS Education and Training Center (NECA AETC), we will inform the tailoring of behavioral and physical health
services to meet the needs of YA affected by HIV in an era of overlapping HIV and COVID-19 pandemics.
CASAH has collected extensive psychosocial, psychiatric, and behavioral data on YAPHIV and YAPHEU, and
health outcomes (including HIV outcomes) from 2003 (n=340; mean age 12 years) to the present (mean age 27
years). To achieve EPOCH-HIV’s aims, we will use latent class analysis (LCA) (Aim 1) to identify pandemic
experience typologies (i.e., highly affected, moderately affected, minimally affected) based on pandemic-related
changes to psychosocial factors (e.g., job/housing loss, trauma). We will then explore risk and protective factors
for these typologies (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, PHIV status, social support) as well as the relationship between
pandemic experience typologies and the following outcomes: (a) behavioral health (i.e., mental health, substance
use), (b) vaccine and booster uptake, c) physical health (e.g., body mass index, health care visits), and (d)
YAPHIV viral suppression. Sampling from participants in each of these typologies, we will qualitatively examine
lived experiences before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (Aim 2), to identify areas for modification in (a)
behavioral health (b) vaccine and booster uptake, and (c) physical health, and (d) YAPHIV care. Our
multidisciplinary team has expertise in infectious diseases, COVID-19, mental health, YA, perinatal HIV,
qualitative methods, mHealth,
structural racism, trauma, and psychosocial and behavioral intervention
development, and together are uniquely positioned to conduct this work. Public Health Impact: EPOCH will use
rigorous and innovative methods to identify and begin to address how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the
behavioral and physical health and care for of YA affected by HIV. Our partnership with NECA AETC and leaders
in health services will enable us to reach providers and rapidly disseminate findings...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10484501
- **Project number:** 1R21MH130268-01
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Philip Kreniske
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $239,850
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-05-18 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10484501

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10484501, Effects of overlapping Pandemics on Coping and behavioral Health among young adults affected by HIV (EPOCH-HIV) (1R21MH130268-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10484501. Licensed CC0.

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