# Computer Assisted Family Intervention to Treat Self-Harm Disparities in Latinas and Sexual/Gender Minority Youth

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CORAL GABLES · 2020 · $120,628

## Abstract

Abstract Project 2 
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in youth ages 10-24 and self-harm, which includes nonfatal 
suicide attempts (SA) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are prevalent and are risk factors for future suicide 
attempts and suicide completion. Self-harm behavior is a disparity for Latinas as well as for sexual/gender 
minority youth. This study seeks to refine and test the efficacy of a computer assisted culturally informed and 
flexible/adaptive intervention (CA CIFFTA) to address this disparity and to reduce the logistical barriers that 
may contribute to underutilization of treatment. We focus the research on Latinas and Latino LGBT youth (both 
males and females) because both groups show significantly higher risk for self-harm behaviors and can 
experience unique stressors (e.g., trauma, minority status, family-related stress, and marginalization) that if 
addressed using a tailored and adaptive intervention, can contribute to health disparities. We seek to refine the 
multicomponent CA CIFFTA treatment so that it includes new psycho-educational modules designed to serve 
sexual/gender minority youth. CIFFTA was designed to address the full continuum of unique culture-related 
stressor (e.g., acculturation, immigration, discrimination due to race, ethnicity), family conflict and substance 
use, and will be enhanced to address unique life stressors (e.g., family and peer rejection due to LGBT 
lifestyle, exposure to trauma, and marginalization), and clinical profiles (e.g., depression, emotion 
dysregulation). The study investigates the efficacy of a hybrid intervention (face to face and web-based 
interventions) delivered to both adolescents and parents when compared to treatment as usual. The adaptive 
framework allows the treatment to be systematically tailored to the unique needs of the adolescent/family. The 
use of technology helps to avoid some of the logistical barriers to service utilization and makes the intervention 
more engaging. The intervention will be refined (content and technology) and then pilot tested with 100 Latino 
adolescents 12-18 years of age and their families. Analyses will investigate: 1) the efficacy of the intervention 
compared to Treatment As Usual, 2) the linkages between co-existing problem areas (e.g., self-harm, risky 
sexual behavior, substance use) to see if there is evidence for a syndemic; and 3) the relationship of culture- 
related variables (e.g., acculturation, familism, and Hispanic Stress) to the key factors hypothesized to 
contribute to self-harm behavior (i.e., depression, family conflict, substance use, and emotion dysregulation). 
The study will utilize a number of measures that are shared across CLaRO studies and will serve as a context 
for the mentoring of a young investigator (Dr. Gattamorta) who is seeking to advance her program of research 
on family process among Latino gender/minority youth.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9889819
- **Project number:** 5U54MD002266-14
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CORAL GABLES
- **Principal Investigator:** DANIEL A. SANTISTEBAN
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $120,628
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9889819

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9889819, Computer Assisted Family Intervention to Treat Self-Harm Disparities in Latinas and Sexual/Gender Minority Youth (5U54MD002266-14). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9889819. Licensed CC0.

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