Impact of Adverse Childhood and Life Experiences on Health
Impact of Adverse Childhood and Life Experiences on Health
Program of Research
Dr. Solberg's comprehensive research program delves into the profound effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and current life circumstances on mental health and substance use outcomes within sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations. This research further investigates the pivotal roles of coping, resilience, and chronic stress, including the unique stressors faced by SGM individuals, in the intricate ACE and health outcome relationship.
The overarching objective of this research is to develop and implement innovative interventions specifically tailored to SGM communities, aiming to ameliorate the detrimental impact of ACE-associated sequelae and thus reduce health disparities within this population. A key component of achieving this goal is a deep understanding of how ACEs and current life experiences affect the health of diverse populations and the mechanisms that underlie adverse health outcomes, providing essential insights for the development of targeted interventions.
Dr. Solberg is currently engaged in a funded project supported by the Harriet Werley Faculty Research Award. This project focuses on examining the effects of ACEs, current stressors, coping strategies, and resilience within sexual minority men and women.
Additionally, another ongoing funded project, "Monitoring the Future: A Cohort-Sequential Panel Study of Drug Use, Ages 19-65 - Diversity Supplement (Solberg)," is supported by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) (3R01DA016575-21S2). This project is dedicated to exploring the prevalence of substance use among SGM individuals and assessing the impact of social context on substance use. Moreover, it examines how substance use affects health outcomes, employing longitudinal, nationally-representative survey data to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between substance use and health disparities within the SGM population.
Dr. Solberg's research efforts represent a significant contribution to the field of understanding ACEs and their consequences, and his work holds the potential to inform targeted interventions and strategies that will ultimately enhance the well-being and health equity of SGM communities.
Dr. Solberg additionally holds an Adjunct Research Assistant Professor position at the Survey Research Center within the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan.
Current Research
- Solberg, M. A. (PI). Monitoring the Future: A Cohort-Sequential Panel Study of Drug Use, Ages 19-65 - Diversity Supplement (Solberg). Funded by: National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) of the National Institutes of Health (2023-2025; $378,334).
- Solberg, M. A. (PI). Adverse Childhood Experiences and Substance Use in Sexual and Gender Minorities: The Effects of Current Stressors and Resilience. Funded by: Harriet Werley Faculty Research Award (2023-2024; $5,000).
Populations of interests
- Sexual and gender minorities
- Racial minorities
- Young adults