# A double-edged sword: Examining the role of technology inperpetuating and preventing teen dating violence among sexual and gender minorityyouth in the Deep South

> **NIH ALLCDC K01** · UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA · 2020 · $122,504

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Teen dating violence (TDV) is an urgent public health problem with many different typologies.
Experiences of TDV have short- and long-term negative health outcomes, such as engagement in high-risk
sexual behaviors, substance use, depression, suicidality, and subsequent relationships with IPV. Although a
widespread problem among all adolescent groups, TDV disproportionately affects sexual and gender minorities
(SGM), who are already at greater risk for these short- and long-term negative health outcomes and may
additionally experience ongoing multi-level stigma and discrimination, especially in the South. In recent years,
with the continued rise in digital communication tools, TDV has evolved to include both online and offline
experiences of violence. Electronically facilitated TDV, or cyber dating abuse (CDA), involves the use of
electronic communications for a number of violence-related behaviors ranging in severity. The scientific
literature regarding CDA has only emerged in the last five years and gaps are evident in terms of estimated
prevalence, sample diversity, and measurement. No studies to date are specific to SGM youth and none have
examined strategies for preventing CDA, addressing e-safety, and promoting support seeking behaviors.
 The objective of this application is to provide essential training opportunities to the PI while advancing
existing TDV research by (1) investigating experiences of CDA among SGM youth in the Deep South and (2)
evaluating the acceptability of future innovative digital violence prevention messaging and strategies using a
mixed methods design. SGM youth (N=400) between the ages of 13-17 years will be recruited online through
targeted social media advertising across eight Deep South states. Interested youth will be screened online
and, if eligible, redirected to complete an online survey assessment. Enrolled SGM youth with prior
experiences of CDA (n=30) will be invited to participate in a subsequent semi-structured qualitative phone
interview. Minority stress model and problem behavior theory informed the study's conceptual model. The long-
term goal of this innovative research is to understand the frequency and context of CDA among SGM
adolescents and to inform the development of digital messaging campaigns and interventions to decrease
CDA and co-occurring violence typologies and to promote healthy adolescent relationships.
 Under the mentorship of an expert team, the training goals for this proposal are to: 1) acquire more in-
depth understanding and knowledge regarding interpersonal violence among adolescents, as well as
strategies for preventing and addressing victimization and perpetration; 2) develop and practice advanced
quantitative data analysis skills; 3) enhance my training to integrate innovative digital technologies and health
communication strategies into research design and the implementation of behavioral interventions; and 4)
further my awareness of ethical issues involved in condu...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10136949
- **Project number:** 1K01CE003226-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Danielle Nicole Lambert
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $122,504
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2022-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10136949

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10136949, A double-edged sword: Examining the role of technology inperpetuating and preventing teen dating violence among sexual and gender minorityyouth in the Deep South (1K01CE003226-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10136949. Licensed CC0.

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