# A Web-Based Media Parenting Intervention to Prevent Youth Substance Use

> **NIH NIH R34** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2022 · $224,246

## Abstract

Abstract
Youth substance use (SU) is associated with many negative developmental outcomes including morbidity and
mortality. Initiation of SU typically occurs during adolescence, and SU behavior often co-occurs with other risk
behaviors (e.g., risky sexual behavior). Exposure to SU in the media is a well-documented influence on SU
behavior, as it predicts early onset SU and progression to more problematic SU behavior. Media effects, while
demonstrated to be consistent, stable, and strong even accounting for other social influences and personality
characteristics, have received little attention in preventative SU research; yet youth exposure to media SU is a
modifiable environmental risk for youth SU behavior. Parents can mitigate SU risk by limiting media SU
exposures and intervening when youth are exposed. Parents report lack of media parenting skills, however,
and no media parenting intervention designed specifically to reduce youth risk for SU exists. This project will
examine the role of media parenting behaviors to reduce risk for early onset of youth SU. This proposal
addresses Objective 2.2 in the NIDA Strategic Plan to “develop and test innovative prevention interventions
that target mechanisms underlying risk factors.” This program of research focuses on media depictions of SU,
an important social and environmental influence implicated in the development, maintenance, and treatment of
SU disorders. Specifically, the aims of this project are to target media-related mechanisms underlying SU
initiation and associated risk factors as they relate to youth development. Improved understanding of specific
parenting behaviors that contribute to prevention of youth SU, and mechanisms by which parenting behaviors
may reduce risk related to media could inform the development of new and more effective interventions.
Research aims in this application are designed to progress towards the end goal of developing a scalable,
evidence-informed media parenting intervention to reduce youth risk for SU. First, intervention content that
follows the T.E.C.H. Parenting framework developed by Gabrielli and Marsch will be refined with two focus
groups of approximately 8 parents each (Aim 1). Once intervention content is finalized, using randomized
control trial (RCT) design with an attention control comparison group, the T.E.C.H. Parenting intervention will
be tested in a sample of 120 parent participants (Aim 2). Innovations include the use of web-based intervention
content with supplemental push messaging to participants. Implementation data will be collected as part of the
RCT to determine feasibility of web-delivered components of intervention content as well as usability and
acceptability of intervention content from participants. This project is highly innovative in the use of technology
to support parental engagement and dissemination of intervention. Further, web delivery of content provides an
opportunity for parents to practice media parenting skills wit...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10441566
- **Project number:** 5R34DA052793-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Joy Gabrielli
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $224,246
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10441566

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10441566, A Web-Based Media Parenting Intervention to Prevent Youth Substance Use (5R34DA052793-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10441566. Licensed CC0.

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