Adolescent Safer Sex Social Network Intervention

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Sexual Behavior, Alcohol Drinking, Marijuana Smoking

In brief

Social networks are thought to hold the potential for shaping behavior on the grounds that social and situational factors more strongly influence behavior than do personality variables. This is a behavioral intervention study that will test a 6-session, small-group, peer-network intervention among adolescent males and females and their friends. The intervention primarily focuses on reducing risky sexual behavior and increasing condom use among adolescent males and females, aged 16-19. The concurrent use of alcohol and marijuana during sex is also a focus as these two substances are widely used among adolescents and fuel risky sexual behavior.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT00107562
Run by: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
People needed: 200
Starts: 2005-02-01
Expected to finish: 2006-03-01
Last updated by the study team: 2017-02-28

Who can join

Age: 16 and older, up to 19. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

Index Participant Inclusion Criteria
Self-identifies as all or part "Latino"
Age is between 16 years and 0 days and 19 years and 364 days at the time of study enrollment
In the past 3 months, reports engaging in any type of heterosexual sex (vaginal, oral or anal) with an opposite-sex partner
In the past 3 months, reports any of the following:
alcohol use at least once;
marijuana use at least once;
having sex while drunk or high.
Must understand spoken and written English sufficiently to provide consent/assent and be interviewed and attend intervention workshops delivered in English
Must live in the Boston or Tampa area, and plan to be available for study appointments (vacation allowed if not interfering with the planned intervention or follow up dates)
Network Participant Inclusion Criteria
Age is between 16 years and 0 days to 19 years and 364 days at the time of study enrollment
In the past 3 months, reports engaging in any type of heterosexual sex (vaginal, oral or anal) with an opposite-sex partner
Must understand spoken and written English sufficiently to provide consent/assent and be interviewed and attend intervention workshops delivered in English
Must live in the Boston or Tampa area, and plan to be available for study appointments (vacation allowed if not interfering with the planned intervention or follow up dates)
Must be reported by an index as a friend who:
has been known for at least 6 months;
hangs out with, or is in contact with the index at least 2 times per week;
has engaged in alcohol or marijuana use with the index during the last 3 months; and
gave directive guidance (gave index information on how to do something) AND, had intimate interaction (i.e. listened to private feelings of index) AND, had positive social interaction with the index.

You may not qualify if…

Index Participant Exclusion Criteria
Reports only same sex behavior
Reports being HIV positive, as measured by self-report
Reports having engaged in behaviors in the past year that are defined as "severe" physical abuse of others on the Conflict Tactics Scale
In the past year, reports having made someone engage in sexual things that he or she did not want to do either by holding the partner down, hurting or by threatening them in some way
Unable to nominate at least one eligible friend to participate in the intervention
Reports having ever used heroin, crack, cocaine, or metamphetamines
Reports alcohol dependence as measured by affirmative answers to 3 or more out of 7 questions on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 4th Edition (DSM-IV) based criteria of substance dependence
Reports marijuana dependence as measured by affirmative answers to 3 or more out of 7 questions on the DSM-IV based criteria of substance dependence
Reports being an active member of a gang
Reports or is known by staff to be currently participating in any other bio-medical or Adolescent Trial Network (ATN)-related intervention study or trial
If female, reports being currently pregnant
Unwilling to be screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Prior participation in this study intervention as either an index or a network member as determined by review of study logs
Network Participant Exclusion Criteria
Is currently romantically involved with the index who named him/her
Has ever had vaginal, oral or anal sex with the index
Reports only same sex behavior
Reports being HIV positive, as measured by self-report
Reports having engaged in behaviors in the past year that are defined as "severe" physical abuse of others on the Conflict Tactics Scale
In the past year, reports having made someone engage in sexual things that he or she did not want to do either by holding the partner down, hurting or by threatening him/her in some way
Reports having ever used heroin, crack, cocaine, or metamphetamines
Reports alcohol dependence as measured by affirmative answers to 3 or more out of 7 questions on the DSM-IV based criteria of substance dependence
Reports marijuana dependence as measured by affirmative answers to 3 or more out of 7 questions on the DSM-IV based criteria of substance dependence
Self-reports being an active member of a gang

Where it is running

University of South Florida College of Medicine — Tampa, Florida, United States
Children's Hospital of Boston — Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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