# Perceived Discrimination, Intersection of Identities, and Health Risk Behaviors in Black Adolescents

> **NIH NIH P20** · MIRIAM HOSPITAL · 2024 · $190,967

## Abstract

Discrimination is nearly pervasive, with Black youth averaging five experiences of racial discrimination 
daily. Discrimination is a determinant of health for historically marginalized populations, and linked to 
decreased psychological, physical, and emotional functioning, negative affective states, and increased 
health risk behaviors such as substance use and maladaptive eating. Black youth also have been identified 
as particularly disadvantaged because of misdiagnosis and overdiagnosis of certain psychiatric disorders, 
underdiagnosis of others, and limited access to mental health treatment. With the additional stressor of 
experiencing discrimination and mental health care inequities, Black youth are at increased risk for 
engaging in health risk behaviors. Unfortunately, most screening tools and interventions fail to account for 
the lived experiences of Black youth and are based on and provided primarily for White youth. The 
proposed project seeks to develop, refine, and test a culturally appropriate theoretical model of the 
contexts (social, emotional) in which discrimination and health risk behaviors occur among Black youth 
while considering intersectionality. Specific Aim 1 will explore the contexts (social, emotional) in which 
discrimination and health risk behaviors occur in Black youth while considering intersectionality and 
develop an ecological assessment protocol. To test this aim, up to 30 Black adolescents aged 14-17 years 
with substance use and/or maladaptive eating behaviors will be recruited to complete focus groups and a 
survey. Drawing on qualitative data, an ecological momentary assessments protocol will be developed and 
refined. Specific Aim 2 will explore whether the ecological momentary assessment protocol accurately 
captures the contexts in which discrimination and health risk behaviors occur in Black youth. To test this 
aim, up to 30 Black adolescents aged 14-17 years with substance use and/or maladaptive eating behaviors 
will be recruited to complete focus groups and a survey. Specific Aim 3 will evaluate the feasibility and 
acceptability of the ecological momentary protocol with a subset of 10 Black youth. This study fills a 
fundamental gap by being one of the first to refine and test a culturally appropriate theoretical model of 
health risk behaviors in Black youth and one of the first to consider intersectionality. Findings from this 
study will provide specific insight into how to adapt screening tools and interventions for health risk 
behaviors in Black youth to be more culturally appropriate.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10928188
- **Project number:** 5P20GM139767-04
- **Recipient organization:** MIRIAM HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Karen Jennings Mathis
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $190,967
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-15 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10928188

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10928188, Perceived Discrimination, Intersection of Identities, and Health Risk Behaviors in Black Adolescents (5P20GM139767-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10928188. Licensed CC0.

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