Me & You-Tech for Teen Dating Violence

(MYTech Trial)

Overseen By Melissa Peskin, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Disqualifiers: Previous participation, Inability to complete activities, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial develops and tests an online program called Me & You-Tech to prevent dating violence among 6th-grade students. It educates students, parents, and schools to create a safer environment. The program replaces the standard health class content with this new approach. Students currently in 6th grade and attending middle school are eligible to participate. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative educational methods that could enhance safety and well-being in schools.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the Me & You-Tech program is safe for 6th-grade students?

Research shows that programs like Me & You-Tech are generally easy for participants to handle. Studies have found that similar programs aimed at preventing dating violence usually do not cause any negative effects. These programs reduce dating violence among teens by using technology to connect with students, parents, and schools.

Although specific safety data for Me & You-Tech is not available, the program's design suggests it is safe. As an educational tool, not a medication or physical treatment, participants use it as part of their regular health education classes, ensuring it fits smoothly into their learning experience. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Me & You-Tech because it introduces a fresh approach to tackling teen dating violence through interactive technology rather than traditional textbook methods. Unlike standard programs that rely on static classroom lessons, Me & You-Tech uses engaging digital experiences to educate and empower teens, making the learning process more relatable and impactful. This innovative delivery method has the potential to capture the attention of young audiences more effectively, potentially leading to greater awareness and prevention of dating violence.

What evidence suggests that the Me & You-Tech program is effective for preventing teen dating violence?

Research has shown that the Me & You-Tech program, which participants in this trial may receive, helps reduce dating violence among middle school students. In one study, students in the program were much less likely to report being physically aggressive. Another study found that the program lowered both physical and sexual violence and reduced the chances of students being victims of physical dating violence. These results suggest that Me & You-Tech can help young teens build healthier relationships. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Melissa Peskin, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Texas Houston School of Public Health

Ross Shegog, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Texas Houston School of Public Health

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for 6th-grade students who are currently attending middle school. It aims to involve not just the youth but also their parents and schools in a comprehensive program.

Inclusion Criteria

6th grade student

I am a middle school student.

Exclusion Criteria

Previous participation in usability and feasibility testing

Inability to read English

Lack of home internet connectivity

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Students receive the Me & You-Tech curriculum in place of their standard health education

3 months

In-school sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for outcomes related to dating violence prevention and healthy relationships

9 months

Assessments at 3 months and 9 months post-intervention

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Me & You-Tech

Trial Overview 'Me & You-Tech' (MYT) is an Internet-based prevention program being tested to see if it can help reduce teen dating violence. The study involves multiple levels including the student, their family, and their school environment.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Students randomized to the intervention group will receive Me \& You Tech in place of their standard health education.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Students assigned to the standard care condition will receive their usual health education which usually includes knowledge-based content on violence prevention taught from the state textbook

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Lead Sponsor

Trials

974

Recruited

361,000+

Radiant Creative Group, LLC

Industry Sponsor

Trials

2

Recruited

620+

Radiant Creative Group, LLC

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

620+

University of Texas

Collaborator

Trials

193

Recruited

143,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11010237/

Economic Evaluation of an Intervention to Prevent ... Me & You is a multilevel, technology-enhanced adolescent dating violence (DV) prevention program that aimed to reduce DV among ethnic-minority, early ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359178923000800

Dating violence prevention programs for at-risk adolescents When types of DV were analyzed separately, the results showed decreases in physical and sexual violence perpetration and physical DV victimization, but not ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6727296/

Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention Program for Early ... We tested the efficacy of Me & You: Building Healthy Relationships, a technology-enhanced DV prevention program for early middle-school students, in reducing DV ...

4. publications.aap.org publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/148/5/e2021052880/181727/A-Dating-Violence-Prevention-Program-for-Middle

A Dating Violence Prevention Program for Middle School ... In a cluster RCT, students in the intervention schools were significantly less likely to report perpetrating physical ARA.

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/335198264_Adolescent_Dating_Violence_Prevention_Program_for_Early_Adolescents_The_Me_You_Randomized_Controlled_Trial_2014-2015

Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention Program for Early ... Me & You is effective in reducing DV perpetration and decreasing some forms of DV victimization in early middle-school ethnic-minority students.

6. ajph.aphapublications.org ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305218

Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention Program for Early ... Objectives. To test the efficacy of Me & You, a multilevel technology-enhanced adolescent dating violence (DV) intervention, in reducing DV ...

7. ajpmonline.org ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(19)30147-3/fulltext

Effects on Teen Dating Violence and Relationship Behaviors CDC. Preventing Teen Dating Violence. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/tdv-factsheet.pdf. Accessed May 13, 2019.