# Me & You-Tech: A socio-ecological solution to teen dating violence for the digital age.

> **NIH NIH R42** · RADIANT CREATIVE GROUP, LLC · 2022 · $519,884

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The goal of this 3 year Fast-Track STTR is to develop and evaluate a multi-level (youth, parent, school)
Internet-based dating violence (DV) prevention program, ‘Me & You-Tech’ (MYT) for 6th--grade middle school
students. By 6th grade, approximately 50% of students will have engaged in a dating relationship. Of these,
almost one-third will have perpetrated physical DV and almost two-thirds will have perpetrated emotional DV.
Youth exposed to DV are more likely to perform poorly in school, experience difficulties in future relationships,
participate in adult violence, and experience depression, suicidal ideation, bullying, substance use, and risky
sexual behavior. Many U.S. states are required by law to provide DV education. However, youth exposure to
DV education, in particular, effective programs, is minimal and the few programs available are confronted with
challenges of school-based barriers to fidelity, training, and resources.
The study comprises 2 phases and 10 specific aims: Phase 1: Develop the theoretically- and empirically-
based MYT prototype and test feasibility (Mos.1-12). Phase 1 Specific Aims: 1.1 Conduct a content analysis
of existing Me & You and SSS intervention matrices to identify required core content, methods, and strategies
for MYT design (youth-, parent-, and school-level components); 1.2 Conduct review of MYT concepts and
wireframes to test acceptability and perceived feasibility for use in the context of the school by School, Youth,
and Parent Advisory Groups to inform MYT design (youth, parent-, and school-level components); 1.3 Develop
MYT design documents and develop the prototype including alpha testing; 1.4 Test usability of MYT prototype;
1.5 Evaluate (pilot-test) the MYT prototype for feasibility and perceived value in school and home settings and
review with distribution collaborator (ETR Inc.) for optimal specifications for dissemination; 1.6 Disseminate
Phase 1 findings (Phase 1 report and peer reviewed publications). Phase 2: Develop MYT informed from
Phase 1 and conduct a RCT to evaluate impact of MYT (Mos. 13-36). Phase 2 Specific Aims: 2.1 Revise MYT
design documents (based on Phase 1 data) and obtain advisory group sign-off; 2.2 Develop the full
theoretically- and empirically-based MYT program; 2.3 Test full MYT program functionality and content (alpha
test), and usability; 2.4 Conduct a RCT of MYT 6th- grade students (n=300) in 4 Houston middle schools; 2.5
Review MYT distribution plans with collaborator ETR Inc.; 2.6 Disseminate Phase 2 findings of Phase 2 report
and peer reviewed publications.
The 3 primary hypotheses are: Compared to those not receiving MYT, youth who access MYT will
demonstrate significantly: 1. Reduced DV (emotional, physical, or sexual) perpetration; 2. Reduced DV
(emotional, physical, or sexual) victimization; and 3. Improved psychosocial determinants related to
healthy/unhealthy dating relationships (e.g., knowledge, skills, self-efficacy, attitudes and norms, gender role...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10329885
- **Project number:** 5R42HD100233-03
- **Recipient organization:** RADIANT CREATIVE GROUP, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeffery McLaughlin
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $519,884
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-01-15 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10329885

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10329885, Me & You-Tech: A socio-ecological solution to teen dating violence for the digital age. (5R42HD100233-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10329885. Licensed CC0.

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