Description

The purpose of this project is to address disparities in sexually transmitted infections, including HIV among urban high school youth, by developing and evaluating a new intervention approach that focuses on relationships as well as factors that might reduce sexual risk taking. The potential effects of the intervention will be tested using a matched pilot-test design involving 2 high schools (approximately 400 students), in which the schools are randomly assigned to either the intervention or comparison condition. Youth will be assessed 3 times during the study: baseline, 3 and 6 months following the intervention, providing data on sexual risk taking behaviors (e.g., sexual partners, condom use) and related determinants, such as functional knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, perceived self efficacy, and perceived norms related to relationships and sexual behaviors. The study also will yield data on characteristics of adolescents’ relationships (e.g., how romantic relationships are developed, what factors characterize different types of relationships, how adolescents view the quality of their relationships). The results of this pilot project will be used to develop a subsequent randomized trial.

Project Director / Principal Investigator

Karin Coyle

Funded By

National Institutes of Health (NIH)