An Interactive Education Program to Reduce High Risk Behavior in Adolescents Ph II (iTRAC HERO)

Adolescence is a critical developmental period during which behavioral patterns are formed that have powerful influences on current and future health. This is particularly true for sexual behavior, which is affected by the biological changes of puberty as well as normative developmental tasks around sexual exploration. Engaging in sexual behavior in early adolescence (before age 15) is associated with more partners, less condom use, and more frequent sex as teens get older, and these factors increase risk for negative health outcomes (e.g., sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy) throughout their lives. Many sexual health interventions teach prevention skills, such as assertiveness or condom use; the premise of the current application is that these skills are often unused by adolescents because of deficits in emotion regulation (ER), which is unaddressed in most sexual health education. Our research team has developed and tested a novel, engaging, efficacious, and developmentally tailored group intervention (Project TRAC) to teach ER skills to early adolescents within the context of sexual health. A study of Project TRAC showed that participants taught ER skills were less likely to start having sex over the 2.5 year follow up. While efficacious, the small group format of the Adolescence is a critical developmental period during which behavioral patterns are formed that have powerful influences on current and future health. This is particularly true for sexual behavior, which is affected by the biological changes of puberty as well as normative developmental tasks around sexual exploration. Engaging in sexual behavior in early adolescence (before age 15) is associated with more partners, less condom use, and more frequent sex as teens get older, and these factors increase risk for negative health outcomes (e.g., sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy) throughout their lives. Many sexual health interventions teach prevention skills, such as assertiveness or condom use; the premise of the current trial is that these skills are often unused by adolescents because of deficits in emotion regulation (ER), which is un-addressed in most sexual health education. The research team has developed and tested a novel, engaging, efficacious, and developmentally tailored group intervention (Project TRAC) to teach ER skills to early adolescents within the context of sexual health. A study of Project TRAC showed that participants taught ER skills were less likely to start having sex over the 2.5 year follow up. While efficacious, the small group format of the program presents barriers to sustainability and dissemination; significant advantages of web-based delivery exist. To explore whether the ER concepts of TRAC could be taught in a web-based format, the investigators completed a pilot study to translate TRAC's ER content to a web-based intervention (iTRAC), using Designing for Dissemination principles that enhance the likelihood of successful dissemination upon completion. iTRAC demonstrated feasibility and acceptability, and a randomized trial showed that iTRAC participants reported significantly better emotional competence compared to waitlist control participants. This study will complete the technology adaptation of the program to include its sexual health content and content linking ER to sexual health. This phase will create iTRAC-HERO as a web app. Once completed, acceptability testing will be completed with early adolescents to allow for modifications based on participant feedback. Once finalized, a small RCT will assess impact on adolescents' self-efficacy for preventing sexual risk as well as engagement in sexual behaviors.

Inclusion criteria

• Attending 7th grade
• Between 12 and 14 years old
• Parent/guardian speaks English or Spanish
• Attending participating school

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to read at a 4th grade level
• Have a sibling who has participated in the study
• Have a development disorder