# Hitting Close to Home: A Multi-Method Investigation of Neighborhood Characteristics and Drinking Motives on Alcohol-Related Health Disparities

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $48,974

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Black Americans bear a disproportionately greater burden of alcohol-related health problems when compared to
their White counterparts,1 representing a significant public health concern. Accordingly, eliminating health
disparities and achieving health equity is one of the leading goals of the NIH Healthy People Initiative.2 Although
existing research has made progress in understanding broad contributors to health inequities, existing models
of substance use fail to adequately explain disparities in alcohol-related consequences among Black adults.3
One promising approach to explaining these disparities is the examination of one’s neighborhood environment
and its relation to alcohol use and related consequences.4,5 Extant literature has linked specific neighborhood
characteristics (e.g., alcohol outlet and liquor store density6,7 and neighborhood disadvantage5) as important
contributors to alcohol use. Yet, existing research on the relationship between neighborhood context and
substance use among Black adults provides conflicting evidence on which neighborhood characteristics are
most important,8,9 highlighting the necessity of using novel approaches to identify salient factors within
individuals’ environments that may contribute to differential alcohol-related outcomes. Moreover, more research
is needed to identify mechanisms of action that associate environmental characteristics with alcohol outcomes,
and drinking motives are often theorized as a potential pathway. Adults living in different neighborhoods may
drink for different reasons, which may differentially influence their alcohol consumption and consequences
experienced. Thus, the current proposal seeks to use both qualitative and quantitative approaches to identify
neighborhood- and community-level factors that may influence alcohol outcomes among Black adults. Specific
aims include (1) identifying neighborhood characteristics (e.g., neighborhood disorganization and deprivation)
that serve as protective or risk factors for alcohol outcomes (i.e., alcohol consumption and alcohol-related
consequences) among Black adults and (2) investigating the association between neighborhood characteristics
and alcohol use outcomes and how alcohol motives may explain this relationship. Study findings will have
important implications for future health disparities research and are crucial for the development of effective,
mechanistically driven public health strategies, prevention and intervention efforts, and policy implications. The
applicant will gain training in (1) understanding the etiology of and treatment approaches for race-related
disparities for alcohol and substance use, (2) qualitative, quantitative, and analytical methodology, (3) scientific
writing and research dissemination, and (4) community-engaged and interdisciplinary approaches. Ultimately,
through the proposed research and training plan, the applicant will develop the skills and expertise necessary to
make a sub...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10878741
- **Project number:** 5F31AA030907-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Chelsea Denise Mackey
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $48,974
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-06-16 → 2026-06-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10878741

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10878741, Hitting Close to Home: A Multi-Method Investigation of Neighborhood Characteristics and Drinking Motives on Alcohol-Related Health Disparities (5F31AA030907-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10878741. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*