Ethical considerations in conducting a text messaging-based HIV prevention program with gay, bisexual, and queer adolescent men

Ybarra ML, Prescott TL, Phillips II GL, Parsons JT, Bull SS, Mustanski B. Ethical considerations in conducting a text messaging-based HIV prevention program with gay, bisexual, and queer adolescent men. J Adolesc Health. 2016;S1054-139X(16):00099-00099. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.03.020. Abstract: PURPOSE: There is a dearth of HIV prevention/healthy sexuality programs developed for adolescent gay and bisexual males (AGBM) as young as 14 years old, in part because of the myriad ethical concerns. To address this gap, we present our ethics-related experiences implementing Guy2Guy, a text messaging-based HIV prevention/healthy sexuality program, in a randomized controlled trial of 302 14- to 18-year-old sexual minority males. METHODS: Potential risks and efforts to reduce these … [Read more...]

Participant-level meta-analysis of mobile phone-based interventions for smoking cessation across different countries

Ybarra ML, Jiang Y, Free C, Abroms LC, Whittaker R. Participant-level meta-analysis of mobile phone-based interventions for smoking cessation across different countries. Prev Med. 2016;89:90-97. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.05.002. Abstract: With meta-analysis, participant-level data from five text messaging-based smoking cessation intervention studies were pooled to investigate cessation patterns across studies and participants. Individual participant data (N = 8315) collected in New Zealand (2001–2003; n = 1705), U.K. (2008–2009; n = 5792), U.S. (2012; n = 503; n = 164) and Turkey (2012; n = 151) were collectively analyzed in 2014. The primary outcome was self-reported 7-day continuous abstinence at 4 weeks post-quit day. Secondary outcomes were: (1) self-reported 7-day continuous … [Read more...]

Lifetime prevalence rates and overlap of physical, psychological, and sexual dating abuse perpetration and victimization in a national sample of youth

Ybarra ML, Espelage DL, Langhinrichsen-Rohling J, Korchmaros JD, boyd d. Lifetime prevalence rates and overlap of physical, psychological, and sexual dating abuse perpetration and victimization in a national sample of youth. Arch Sex Behav. Published online April 20, 2016. doi: 10.1007/s10508-016-0748-9. Abstract: National, epidemiological data that provide lifetime rates of psychological, physical, and sexual adolescent data abuse (ADA) perpetration and victimization within the same sample of youth are lacking. To address this gap, data from 1058 randomly selected U.S. youth, 14–21 years old, surveyed online in 2011 and/or 2012, were weighted to be nationally representative and analyzed. In addition to reporting prevalence rates, we also examined the overlap of the six types of ADA … [Read more...]

Sexual behaviors and partner characteristics by sexual identity among adolescent girls

Ybarra ML, Rosario M, Saewyc E, Goodenow C. Sexual behaviors and partner characteristics by sexual identity among adolescent girls. J Adolesc Health. 2016;58(3):310-316. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.11.001 Abstract: PURPOSE: Data suggest that lesbian and bisexual adolescents engage in risky sexual behaviors at higher rates than heterosexual girls. Whether these findings also apply to girls of other sexual identities is less well understood. Potential differences in risky sexual behaviors reported by lesbian versus bisexual adolescents are also underreported in the literature. METHODS: Data were collected online in 2010-2011 among 2,823 girls, aged 13-18 years, in the United States. Multinomial logistic regression was used to quantify comparisons of sexual behaviors between (1) … [Read more...]

Low rates of human immunodeficiency virus testing among adolescent gay, bisexual, and queer men

Phillips G 2nd, Ybarra M, Prescott T, Parsons J, Mustanski B. Low rates of Human Immunodeficiency Virus testing among adolescent gay, bisexual, and queer men. J Adolesc Health. 2015;57(4):407-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.06.014. Abstract: PURPOSE: Adolescent gay and bisexual men (AGBM) are disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but little is known about testing rates among men aged 18 years and under or about the barriers that they face when contemplating an HIV test. Therefore, we investigate here the testing behaviors and barriers among a diverse national sample of AGBM. METHODS: A total of 302 AGBM aged 14–18 years were recruited via Facebook ads to participate in an mHealth (text messaging-based) HIV prevention program. Recruitment was … [Read more...]

Iteratively developing an mHealth HIV prevention programfor sexual minority adolescent men

Ybarra M, Last Prescott T, Philips G, Bull S, Parsons J, Mustanski B. Iteratively developing an mHealth HIV prevention program for sexual minority adolescent men. AIDS & Behavior. 2016; 20 (6): 1157–1172. dio: 10.1007/s10461-015-1146-3 Abstract: Five activities were implemented between November 2012 and June 2014 to develop an mHealth HIV prevention program for adolescent gay, bisexual, and queer men (AGBM): (1) focus groups to gather acceptability of the program components; (2) ongoing development of content; (3) Content Advisory Teams to confirm the tone, flow, and understandability of program content; (4) an internal team test to alpha test software functionality; and (5) a beta test to test the protocol and intervention messages. Findings suggest that AGBM preferred positive … [Read more...]

Examining the influence of a text message-based sleep and physical activity intervention among young adult smokers in the United States

Filion J, Darlington G, Chaput J, Ybarra M, Haines J. Examining the influence of a text message-based sleep and physical activity intervention among young adult smokers in the United States. BMC Public Health. 2015;15(1): 671. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-2045-2 Abstract: BACKGROUND: Sleep and physical activity are two health behaviors associated with improved smoking cessation outcomes. Text message-based interventions have previously been used to promote physical activity and smoking cessation; however, this type of intervention has not targeted sleep habits. This study examined the effectiveness of a text message-based active control intervention in improving sleep and physical activity habits among a U.S. national sample of young adult smokers participating in a smoking cessation … [Read more...]

The authors reply: “Sexting” and its relation to sexual activity and sexual risk behavior in a national survey of adolescents

Ybarra ML, Mitchell KJ. The authors reply: “Sexting” and its relation to sexual activity and sexual risk behavior in a national survey of adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2015; 57(1):129. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.04.014 Abstract: We appreciate Eugene's letter in response to our recent article about the psychosocial and behavioral characteristics associated with “sexting” in adolescence. We agree that our study adds to the handful of national studies documenting the limited scope of adolescent sexting. Indeed, our prevalence rate, 7% [1], is similar to national studies of Mitchell et al. [2] and Lenhart [3], which used comparable definitions of sexting. These studies also report fewer than 10% of adolescents engaging in the behavior. View full article (will open new page on … [Read more...]

A national study of lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB), and non-LGB youth sexual behavior online and in-person

Ybarra ML, Mitchell KJ. A national study of lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB), and non-LGB youth sexual behavior online and in-person. Arch Sex Behav. 2015. doi: 10.1007/s10508-015-0491-7. Abstract: Online and in-person sexual behaviors of cisgender lesbian, gay, queer, bisexual, heterosexual, questioning, unsure, and youth of other sexual identities were examined using data from the Teen Health and Technology study. Data were collected online between August 2010 and January 2011 from 5,078 youth 13-18 years old. Results suggested that, depending on sexual identity, between 4-35 % of youth had sexual conversations and 2-24 % shared sexual photos with someone online in the past year. Among the 22 % of youth who had oral, vaginal, and/or anal sex, between 5-30 % met one of their two most … [Read more...]

A randomized controlled trial to increase HIV preventive information, motivation, and behavioral skills in Ugandan adolescents

Ybarra ML, Korchmaros JD, Prescott TL, Birungi R. A randomized controlled trial to increase HIV preventive information, motivation, and behavioral skills in Ugandan adolescents. Ann Behav Med. 2015;49(3):473-85. doi: 10.1007/s12160-014-9673-0. Abstract: BACKGROUND: One in 25 Ugandan adolescents is HIV positive. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of an Internet-based HIV prevention program on Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills (IMB) Model-related constructs. METHODS: Three hundred and sixty-six sexually experienced and inexperienced students 13–18+ years old in Mbarara, Uganda, were randomly assigned to the five-lesson CyberSenga program or the treatment-as-usual control group. Half of the intervention participants were further randomized to a booster … [Read more...]