# The Role of Race and Gender Based Discrimination in Black Female Youth?s Perceptions of and Experiences with Teen Dating Violence

> **NIH ALLCDC K01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2022 · $124,799

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Teen dating violence (TDV) affects approximately 1 in 9 female high school students. Black female
adolescents are disproportionately affected, with data showing that they are 9 times more likely to experience
TDV victimization than their white female peers. TDV victimization is associated with a range of negative
sequelae, including acute and chronic physical and mental health problems, suicidality, substance use,
behavioral issues, and academic problems. Robust and culturally-responsive strategies are needed to prevent
TDV victimization among Black female adolescents. Exposure to racism and sexism has been linked to
increased risk for TDV victimization, with one study finding that, among a mostly Black and Latinx sample of
youth, those who reported racial and gender discrimination were 2.5 times more likely to report TDV
victimization than those who experienced none or one form of discrimination. These data suggest that failing to
consider systemic oppression as a risk factor for TDV could limit the impact of prevention strategies for youth
of color. The proposed study expands previous work on links between discrimination (race and gender based)
and TDV by assessing three levels of discrimination: interpersonal, structural, and internalized. Study aims for
this two-year career development award are: 1) qualitatively assess how Black adolescent females’
experiences with race and gender discrimination relate to their beliefs about and experiences with TDV, 2)
quantitatively examine associations between racial and gender discrimination and TDV in a sample of Black
female adolescents, and 3) using a mixed-methods approach, examine associations between race and gender
discrimination and TDV help-seeking. The candidate has outlined the following training goals 1) develop a
deeper understanding of and ways to assess associations between discrimination (race and gender-based)
and Black female youth’s perceptions of and experiences with teen TDV and 2) enhance leadership and team
management skills to support the successful transition to becoming an independent investigator. Data
collected from a sample of Black female adolescents between the ages of 15 and 17 years old residing in
Pittsburgh, PA, will provide descriptive information needed for a larger study focused on the development,
refinement, and pilot testing of a TDV primary prevention program tailored for Black female adolescents, a
population disproportionately burdened by TDV. The proposed research along with the training plan described
in the application will uniquely position the candidate to become an independent investigator and leading
scholar in the important public health problem of TDV, with a focus on reducing TDV risk among Black female
adolescents.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10481798
- **Project number:** 5K01CE003328-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Lynissa R Stokes
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $124,799
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-30 → 2023-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10481798

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10481798, The Role of Race and Gender Based Discrimination in Black Female Youth?s Perceptions of and Experiences with Teen Dating Violence (5K01CE003328-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10481798. Licensed CC0.

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