Development and Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Tool for At-Risk Trauma-Exposed Young People

YMSM and adolescents with SUD participants will complete 3 study sessions. During session 1, informed consent and baseline measures are administered. Approximately one week later, during session 2, participants use and assess the virtual reality tool. Approximately one week later, during session 3, baseline assessments are re-administered.

Inclusion criteria

for YMSM are as follows:

• Someone who identifies as a YMSM or identifies as someone with romantic or physical attraction to individuals who identify as men
• Is aged 15-30 years
• Have experienced at least one ITE in lifetime (i.e., sexual assault, physical assault, witnessed domestic or community violence)
• Report being consensually sexually active or planning to become sexually active with a partner in the next 12 months
• Live in the Charleston, SC/Tri-county area

Inclusion criteria

for adolescents with SUD are as follows:

• Someone who reports using substances in the past year (for participants ages 15-17) or the past 6 months (for participants ages 18-30)
• Is aged 15-30 years
• Have experienced at least one ITE in lifetime (i.e., sexual assault, physical assault, witnessed domestic or community violence)
• Report being consensually sexually active or planning to become sexually active with a partner in the next 12 months
• Live in the Charleston, SC/Tri-county area

Inclusion criteria

for front line healthcare workers are as follows:

• works directly with adolescents who have experienced ITE and/or
• works directly with adolescents or young adults with SUD and/or
• works directly with YMSM and/or
• works directly with and/or adolescent or young adults who are HIV-positive

Exclusion criteria

for all participants are as follows:

• exhibits psychotic symptoms;
• exhibits significant cognitive disability;
• reports a history of Pervasive Developmental Disorder;
• has active suicidal or homicidal ideations
• self-reports high levels of motion sickness