Structural Racism, Reward Related Decision Making and Substance Use Risk

NCT06221839 | Recruiting

• 3 other identifiers: AAAV41201R61DA0589858499
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 72
• Locations: 2 countries
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study, which has a pilot phase (R61) and a second, larger phase (R33), is to learn about the impact of indicators of structural racism (SR) on substance use risk in Puerto Rican adolescents living in the mainland US and in Puerto Rico. To do this, we will look at how indicators of SR relate to brain structure, brain function during reward-related choices, belief in a just world, and substance use risk indicators in Puerto Rican adolescents living in the mainland US (mostly in New York) and in Puerto Rico (mostly in San Juan). We are currently focused on the R61 (pilot) phase. This pilot phase aims to answer the question: Is there a relationship between indicators of SR and brain structure, brain function during reward-related decision making, and belief in a just world? If we are able to establish a relationship between SR indicators and outcomes, we will continue to the second phase of the study at that time. We will be collecting data from a total of 72 adolescents and their parents; n=36 in NY; n=36 in PR). Participation in the research study will include: 1. an interview with the parent or caregiver (approximately 2.5 hours) regarding the child's demographics, mental health symptoms, past experiences, the parent or caregiver's relationship with the child, as well as cultural values and acculturation; 2. an interview with the child (approximately 2.5 hours) regarding the child's past experiences, their current beliefs, personality traits and mental health symptoms; 3. an MRI scan for the child including task-based, structural and resting-state functional connectivity (approximately 1 hour).

Conditions

Structural Racism; Substance Use Risk

Keywords

Adolescent Behavior; Reward Related Decision Making; fMRI

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Adolescent Brain Structure

  Grey matter volume of superior frontal, dorsal lateral and medial prefrontal cortices

  Up to 3.5 hours

• Steeper Delay Discounting

  The delay discounting k factor, a measure of how much perceived value is affected by delay in reward delivery

  Up to 3.5 hours

• Delay Discounting Related Brain Function

  The brain will be more active for immediate vs delayed rewards in the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex, and the ventral striatum, and more active for delayed vs immediate rewards in the insula, while the anterior cingulate will track the value of the reward.

  Up to 3.5 hours

• Belief in a Just World

  Score on the Belief in a Just World Scale (Dalbert, 1999)

  Up to 3.5 hours

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 11 Years - 14 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Puerto Rican adolescents living in the mainland US and in Puerto Rico, and a parent or caregiver of each adolescent.

You may qualify if:

• The adolescent participant is a biological or non-biological child of a member of the original Boricua Youth Study (BYS) sample.
• The adolescent is between the ages of 11 to 14.5 at the time of recruitment, and 11 to \<15 at the time of study participation.
• If the parent/caregiver is not an original BYS member, they have provided a consent to contact form.
• Parent/caregiver is between the ages of 18-64.5 at the time of recruitment and 18 to \<65 at the time of study participation

You may not qualify if:

• Major neurological disorder (e.g. seizure disorder) or cognitive impairment (e.g., moderate to severe Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): collaborator
• Columbia University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

New York, New York, 10032, United States

RECRUITING

University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus

San Juan, 00921, Puerto Rico

RECRUITING

Related Publications (26)

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• Lerner MJ, & Miller, DT. Just world research and the attribution process: Looking back and ahead. Psychological bulletin, 1978; 85(5).

  BACKGROUND

• Maxwell MY, Taylor RL, Barch DM. Relationship Between Neighborhood Poverty and Externalizing Symptoms in Children: Mediation and Moderation by Environmental Factors and Brain Structure. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2023 Dec;54(6):1710-1722. doi: 10.1007/s10578-022-01369-w. Epub 2022 May 21.

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• Miller v. Alabama SC. 2012.

  BACKGROUND

• Pokhrel P, Unger JB, Wagner KD, Ritt-Olson A, Sussman S. Effects of parental monitoring, parent-child communication, and parents' expectation of the child's acculturation on the substance use behaviors of urban, Hispanic adolescents. J Ethn Subst Abuse. 2008;7(2):200-13. doi: 10.1080/15332640802055665.

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  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Systemic Racism; Adolescent Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Racism; Prejudice; Social Behavior; Behavior; Social Discrimination

Study Officials

• Tamara J. Sussman, PhD

  Columbia University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Tamara J. Sussman, PhD

CONTACT

646-774-6048; Tamara.Sussman@nyspi.columbia.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Clinical Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry)

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 13, 2023
• First Posted: January 24, 2024
• Study Start: February 3, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Last Updated: February 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

PR (1); US (1)