@article{mccrimmon_widman_brasileiro_2024, title={Adolescent Barriers to Sexual Communication with Their Parents: Differences by Sexual and Gender Identity}, volume={6}, ISSN={["1559-8519"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2024.2362899}, DOI={10.1080/00224499.2024.2362899}, journal={JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH}, author={Mccrimmon, Jordyn and Widman, Laura and Brasileiro, Julia}, year={2024}, month={Jun} }
 @article{galper_widman_brasileiro_noar_2024, title={Adolescents' pornography viewing frequency and its relationship with condom attitudes}, volume={21}, ISSN={["1449-8987"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1071/SH24025}, DOI={10.1071/SH24025}, abstractNote={Background This study examined adolescent pornography viewing and its' relationship with condom attitudes. Methods Data were from 457 adolescents aged 13-18years old who completed an online survey assessing pornography viewing frequency and condom attitudes. Results Many adolescents in our sample had viewed pornography in the past year (n =188, 41%), with pornography viewing frequency being higher among older adolescents (P =0.02), those who have had sex in the past year (P =0.001), and those who identified as White (P =0.01), LGB+ (P =0.05), and male (P =0.001). Adolescents who viewed pornography more frequently had more negative condom attitudes (r =-0.18, P Conclusions A substantial proportion of adolescents in our sample viewed pornography and those who view more frequently had more negative condom attitudes. Results indicate a need for experimental studies examining this relationship and interventions addressing pornography literacy among adolescents.}, number={3}, journal={SEXUAL HEALTH}, author={Galper, Emily F. and Widman, Laura and Brasileiro, Julia and Noar, Seth M.}, editor={Lim, MeganEditor}, year={2024} }
 @article{mccrimmon_widman_javidi_brasileiro_hurst_2023, title={Evaluation of a Brief Online Sexual Health Program for Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial}, volume={4}, ISSN={["1552-6372"]}, DOI={10.1177/15248399231162379}, abstractNote={ Adolescents are at increased risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and experiencing unintended pregnancy. In particular, adolescents from marginalized communities experience significant sexual health disparities compared to their more advantaged peers. Digital sexual health programs, such as HEART ( Health Education and Relationship Training), may be effective in reducing these risks and addressing these disparities. HEART is a web-based intervention focused on the promotion of positive sexual health outcomes, such as sexual decision-making skills, sexual communication skills, sexual health knowledge, and sexual norms and attitudes. The current study evaluates the efficacy of HEART, and examines whether effects were moderated by gender, socioeconomic status (SES), race, English as a second language, and sexual orientation to ensure the program is effective for diverse groups of adolescents. Participants were 457 high school students (Meanage=15.06, 59% girls, 35% White, 78% heterosexual, 54% receive free or reduced-price lunch). Students were randomized to HEART or an attention matched control and assessed at pretest and immediate posttest. HEART was effective in increasing sexual assertiveness, sexual communication intentions, HIV/STI knowledge, condom attitudes, and safer sex self-efficacy compared to the control condition. There were no significant interactions by gender, SES, race, English as a second language, or sexual orientation, suggesting the program worked equally well for all groups of youth. The findings of this study suggest that HEART may be a promising avenue for the promotion of positive sexual health outcomes for diverse groups of youth. }, journal={HEALTH PROMOTION PRACTICE}, author={McCrimmon, Jordyn and Widman, Laura and Javidi, Hannah and Brasileiro, Julia and Hurst, Jeffrey}, year={2023}, month={Apr} }
 @article{hurst_widman_brasileiro_maheux_evans-paulson_choukas-bradley_2023, title={Parents’ attitudes towards the content of sex education in the USA: Associations with religiosity and political orientation}, volume={1}, ISSN={1468-1811 1472-0825}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2022.2162871}, DOI={10.1080/14681811.2022.2162871}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT While most parents support their adolescents receiving school-based sex education, there is variability in which sex education topics receive the most support from parents. Conservative political orientation and greater religiosity have been independently associated with parents’ lack of support for school-based sex education; however, no studies have examined the intersection of these two factors. The three goals of this study were to: 1) identify how specific sexual education topics cluster together to form content areas; 2) examine if religiosity and political orientation are uniquely associated with these content areas; and 3) examine if political orientation moderates the relationship between parents’ religiosity and their perceived importance for the specific sex education content areas. Participants were a national sample of 881 US parents. The sex education topics clustered into three content areas: Factual Knowledge (e.g., STI transmission), Practical Skills (e.g., how to access condoms), and Pleasure and Identity (e.g., pleasurable aspects of sex). Politically conservative and more religious parents reported the lowest perceived importance for each content area. Importantly, these main effects were qualified by a significant interaction: parents who reported both political conservativism and high levels of religiosity reported the lowest perceived importance for these three content areas being taught.}, journal={Sex Education}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Hurst, Jeffrey L. and Widman, Laura and Brasileiro, Julia and Maheux, Anne J. and Evans-Paulson, Reina and Choukas-Bradley, Sophia}, year={2023}, month={Jan}, pages={1–17} }
 @article{astle_brasileiro_2023, title={Whose Job Is It Anyway? Parents' Perspectives of Responsibilities for Educating Their Children About Sex}, ISSN={["1553-6610"]}, DOI={10.1007/s13178-023-00898-w}, journal={SEXUALITY RESEARCH AND SOCIAL POLICY}, author={Astle, Shelby and Brasileiro, Julia}, year={2023}, month={Nov} }
 @article{brasileiro_widman_norwalk_mccrimmon_mullins_2022, title={National trends and disparate access to formal and informal sex education among youth involved with the child welfare system in the USA}, volume={10}, ISSN={1468-1811 1472-0825}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2022.2134102}, DOI={10.1080/14681811.2022.2134102}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT This study investigated whether youth involved with the child welfare system in the USA are receiving formal and informal sex education. Data come from the Second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Wellbeing, a nationally representative sample of children and adolescents in contact with child protective services. Participants included young people (n = 1093, aged 11–21) involved with the child welfare system. Participants reported whether they had received formal sex education about a) abstinence only; b) contraceptives/condoms only; c) abstinence and contraceptives/condoms; or d) none. They also reported whether they knew where to access family planning services. We examined the prevalence of sex education experiences and differences in sex education access and knowledge based on participants’ pregnancy history and sociodemographic characteristics. Only half (49%) of participants had received any form of formal sex education. Pregnant youth were less likely to have received any sex education compared to non-pregnant youth . 72% of adolescents who had received sex education about contraceptives/condoms reported knowing where to access family planning services compared to only 46% of adolescents who had not received this sex education . There is a pressing need for comprehensive sex education among youth involved with the child welfare system.}, journal={Sex Education}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Brasileiro, Julia and Widman, Laura and Norwalk, Kate and Mccrimmon, Jordyn and Mullins, Lily}, year={2022}, month={Oct}, pages={1–17} }
 @article{hurst_widman_maheux_evans-paulson_brasileiro_lipsey_2022, title={Parent–child communication and adolescent sexual decision making: An application of family communication patterns theory.}, volume={36}, ISSN={1939-1293 0893-3200}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fam0000916}, DOI={10.1037/fam0000916}, abstractNote={Family communication patterns theory proposes two dimensions of family communication-conversation orientation and conformity orientation-that can impact adolescent decision making. The purpose of this study is to examine how family communication patterns, above and beyond the frequency of parent-child sexual communication, are associated with adolescents' (a) sexual self-efficacy, (b) intentions to communicate about sex with partners, and (c) intentions to use condoms. Participants were 452 U.S. adolescents (Mage = 15.06; 59% girls; 35% White, 33% Latinx, 25% Black). Controlling for the frequency of parent-child sexual communication and gender, we found the interaction between conversation and conformity orientation was associated with adolescent sexual self-efficacy and intentions to communicate about sex with partners. When families were high on conversation and low on conformity, adolescents had statistically significantly higher sexual self-efficacy than any other family communication patterns. When families were low on conversation and low on conformity, adolescents had statistically significantly lower intentions to communicate with future sex partners than any other family communication pattern. Findings highlight the importance of understanding general communication processes beyond the frequency of parent-child sexual communication. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Family Psychology}, publisher={American Psychological Association (APA)}, author={Hurst, Jeffrey L. and Widman, Laura and Maheux, Anne J. and Evans-Paulson, Reina and Brasileiro, Julia and Lipsey, Nikolette}, year={2022}, month={Apr}, pages={449–457} }
 @article{evans-paulson_widman_brasileiro_maheux_choukas-bradley_2021, title={Examining the link between sexual self-concept and sexual communication among adolescents}, volume={69}, ISSN={["1746-4102"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1080/01463373.2021.1969585}, DOI={10.1080/01463373.2021.1969585}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to move beyond a sexual risk framework to investigate the possible associations among three sex-positive constructs for adolescents: their sexual self-concept (i.e., their positive/negative feelings about themselves as sexual beings), their sexual communication with romantic/sexual partners, and their sexual communication self-efficacy. We also examined differences in these constructs by sexual intercourse experience and gender. Participants were 171 adolescents who had been in a dating or sexual relationship in the past year (M age = 16.32 years; 64.3% girls). Compared to girls, boys had more positive sexual self-concepts but less self-efficacy to communicate with their partners about sex. Adolescents who reported having had sexual intercourse had more positive sexual self-concepts as well as more frequent partner sexual communication compared to adolescents without sexual intercourse experience. Adolescents with a more positive sexual self-concept had higher sexual communication self-efficacy and reported more frequent sexual communication. In addition, sexual communication self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between sexual self-concept and sexual communication. Results highlight the connection between sexual self-concept and sexual communication and contribute to a growing body of work on the positive aspects of adolescent sexuality.}, number={5}, journal={COMMUNICATION QUARTERLY}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Evans-Paulson, Reina and Widman, Laura and Brasileiro, Julia and Maheux, Anne J. and Choukas-Bradley, Sophia}, year={2021}, month={Sep} }
 @article{brasileiro_widman_spiva_norwalk_2021, title={Identifying gaps in training on sexual health for caregivers of adolescents in foster care}, volume={17}, ISSN={1745-0128 1745-0136}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17450128.2021.1975859}, DOI={10.1080/17450128.2021.1975859}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Youth in foster care are a vulnerable group of adolescents that experience worse sexual health outcomes, including higher rates of STIs, HIV, and early and repeat pregnancy, compared to youth not in foster care. Caregivers of youth in foster care may play a critical role in improving the sexual health of youth in their care. However, many caregivers of youth in foster care do not talk to youth about sexual health, and few studies have directly asked caregivers about the trainings they may need to provide better sex education to youth. This exploratory study examined the training needs of caregivers of youth in foster care. Participants were a state-wide sample of 347 caregivers of youth in foster care in North Carolina, United States, who completed an online survey that asked about training needs. Almost half (49.0%) of participants state that they do not feel fully prepared to parent youth in foster care. Seventy-two percent of participants indicated they would like to receive more training on at least one of the three topics relevant to adolescent relationships and sexual health. By topic, the percentage of participants who desired more information included: peer pressure and friendships (48.1%); sexuality and sexual risk reduction (e.g. healthy relationships, pregnancy, STIs) (43.8%); and puberty and physical development (40.3%). Another area that most participants expressed a desire for more training was adolescent technology use (56.2%) – which is relevant to adolescent relationships and sexuality given a rise in the use of technology-based platforms to meet relationship partners, look at pornography, and share sexual messages and photos. Many caregivers desire additional training on how to engage with youth about sexuality and sexual risk reduction. Training caregivers of youth in foster care may be an effective strategy for improving the sexual health outcomes of this vulnerable population of youth.}, number={2}, journal={Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Brasileiro, Julia and Widman, Laura and Spiva, Sunshine and Norwalk, Kate}, year={2021}, month={Sep}, pages={119–129} }
 @article{javidi_widman_lipsey_brasileiro_javidi_jhala_2021, title={REDEVELOPING A DIGITAL SEXUAL HEALTH INTERVENTION FOR ADOLESCENTS TO ALLOW FOR BROADER DISSEMINATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR HIV AND STD PREVENTION}, volume={33}, ISSN={["1943-2755"]}, DOI={10.1521/aeap.2021.33.2.89}, abstractNote={ HIV/STDs and unintended pregnancy persist among adolescents in the United States; thus, effective sexual health interventions that can be broadly disseminated are necessary. Digital health interventions are highly promising because they allow for customization and widespread reach. The current project involved redeveloping and expanding HEART (Health Education and Relationship Training)—a brief, digital sexual health intervention efficacious at improving safer sex knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavior—onto an open-source platform to allow for greater interactivity and accessibility while reducing long-term program costs. The authors describe the process of adapting, reprogramming, and evaluating the new program, which may serve as a guide for investigators seeking to adapt behavioral interventions onto digital platforms. The final product is an open-source intervention that can be easily adapted for new populations. Among 233 adolescents (Mage = 15.06; 64% girls), HEART was highly acceptable and generally feasible to administer, with no differences in acceptability by gender or sexual identity. }, number={2}, journal={AIDS EDUCATION AND PREVENTION}, author={Javidi, Hannah and Widman, Laura and Lipsey, Nikolette and Brasileiro, Julia and Javidi, Farhad and Jhala, Arnav}, year={2021}, month={Apr}, pages={89–102} }
 @article{brasileiro_widman_hurst_2021, title={Sexual self-efficacy and sexual communication among adolescent girls: moderated mediation results from a randomized controlled trial}, volume={11}, ISSN={0887-0446 1476-8321}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2021.2012573}, DOI={10.1080/08870446.2021.2012573}, abstractNote={Abstract Objective: Guided by the Operating Conditions Framework, the goal of this study was to identify how and for whom an online sexual health program called Health Education and Relationship Training (HEART) worked. Design: Data come from a randomized controlled trial among 198 U.S. high school girls who completed HEART or an attention-matched control. We conducted mediation and moderated mediation models to determine if sexual self-efficacy was a mediator and if program acceptability and sexual activity status were moderators of HEART efficacy. Main Outcome Measure: Sexual communication skills were assessed with a behavioral role-play task. Results: HEART significantly improved sexual communication skills. These effects were fully mediated through sexual self-efficacy. Specifically, HEART improved sexual self-efficacy which in turn increased sexual communication skills. Also, when participants liked the program more, the effect of HEART on sexual self-efficacy was stronger. Further, among girls who had engaged in sexual activity, sexual self-efficacy was significantly associated with sexual communication skills. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the mechanisms of behavior change underlying HEART. Results highlight the need to further ‘unpack’ the effects of other sexual health programs, as we showed that programs may work better under certain conditions.}, journal={Psychology & Health}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Brasileiro, Julia and Widman, Laura and Hurst, Jeffrey L.}, year={2021}, month={Dec}, pages={1–15} }
 @article{brasileiro_widman_evans_javidi_2021, title={Social self-efficacy and sexual communication among adolescents in the United States: a cross-sectional study}, volume={18}, ISSN={["1449-8987"]}, DOI={10.1071/SH20221}, abstractNote={Background    Sexual communication between partners is associated with safer sex behaviours, including condom use among adolescents. Several studies have found a relationship between negative psychological constructs (e.g. depression, anxiety) and poor sexual communication; however, scant research exists regarding positive psychological constructs and their potential to promote effective sexual communication among adolescents. This study examined the association between a positive construct, social self-efficacy – a person’s belief in their ability to successfully manage social relationships – and three components of sexual communication: sexual assertiveness, self-efficacy for communication, and frequency of sexual communication with dating partners. Methods: Data were collected in a cross-sectional survey from 222 high school girls in a rural school district in the south-eastern United States (Mage = 15.2; 38% White, 29% Latina, 24% Black; 50% were in a dating relationship in the past 3 months). Variables were measured with Likert-type scales. Bivariate correlation and regression analyses were conducted. Results: Social self-efficacy was significantly positively associated with sexual assertiveness and sexual communication self-efficacy for all girls, and there was a positive trend in the relationship between social self-efficacy and communication frequency among the subsample of girls who had a dating partner. The significant relationship with sexual assertiveness (β = 0.22, s.e. = 0.07, P = 0.001) and sexual communication self-efficacy (β = 0.17, s.e. = 0.04, P = 0.013) remained when controlling for sexual activity status. Conclusions: Strengthening social self-efficacy may enhance girls’ sexual communication and assertiveness skills. Future studies are needed to confirm the causal and temporal nature of these associations.}, number={2}, journal={SEXUAL HEALTH}, author={Brasileiro, Julia and Widman, Laura and Evans, Reina and Javidi, Hannah}, year={2021}, pages={172–179} }
 @article{evans_widman_stokes_javidi_hope_brasileiro_2020, title={Association of Sexual Health Interventions With Sexual Health Outcomes in Black Adolescents A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis}, volume={174}, ISSN={["2168-6211"]}, DOI={10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.0382}, abstractNote={Importance
Black adolescents are at increased risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and experiencing unplanned pregnancy. Although sexual health interventions aimed at decreasing these risks exist, evidence of the association between sexual health interventions and the sexual behavior of black adolescents has not been synthesized to our knowledge.


Objective
To examine the associations between sexual health interventions and behavioral, biological, and psychological outcomes.


Data Sources
For this systematic review and meta-analysis, a systematic search was conducted of studies published through January 31, 2019, using the PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases and relevant review articles. The following key words were used: youth, adolesc* or teen*; sexual health or safe* sex or sexually transmitted disease or sexually transmitted infection or STD or STI or HIV or AIDS or pregnancy or reproductive health or condom* or contracept* or unprotected sex or abstinence; intervention or program or education or prevention or promotion or trial; latino* or latina* or latinx* or minorit* or ethnic* or hispanic or african american* or black* or race or racial or biracial.


Study Selection
Studies were included if they included a US-based sample of black adolescents, evaluated a sexual health intervention using experimental or quasi-experimental designs, included a behavioral outcome, and were published in English.


Data Extraction and Synthesis
Standardized mean differences and 95% CIs were extracted and meta-analyzed using random-effects models.


Main Outcomes and Measures
Behavioral outcomes were abstinence, condom use, and number of sex partners. Biological outcomes were pregnancy and STI contraction. Psychological outcomes were sexual health intentions, knowledge, and self-efficacy.


Results
Across 29 studies including 11 918 black adolescents (weighted mean age, 12.43 years), there was a significant weighted mean association of sexual health interventions with improvements in abstinence (Cohen d = 0.14; 95% CI, 0.05-0.24) and condom use (Cohen d = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.11-0.39). No significant mean association of these interventions with number of sex partners, pregnancy, or STI contraction was found. Sexual health interventions were significantly associated with improvements in psychological outcomes: sexual health intentions (Cohen d = 0.17; 95% CI, 0.05-0.30), knowledge (Cohen d = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.30-0.63), and self-efficacy (Cohen d = 0.19; 95% CI, 0.09-0.28). Intervention effect sizes were consistent across factors, such as participant sex and age and intervention dose.


Conclusions and Relevance
The findings suggest that sexual health interventions are associated with improvements in sexual well-being among black adolescents. There appears to be a need for wide-scale dissemination of these programs to address racial disparities in sexual health across the US.}, number={7}, journal={JAMA PEDIATRICS}, author={Evans, Reina and Widman, Laura and Stokes, McKenzie N. and Javidi, Hannah and Hope, Elan C. and Brasileiro, Julia}, year={2020}, month={Jul}, pages={676–689} }
 @misc{evans_widman_stokes_javidi_hope_brasileiro_2020, title={Sexual Health Programs for Latinx Adolescents: A Meta-analysis}, volume={146}, ISSN={["1098-4275"]}, DOI={10.1542/peds.2019-3572}, abstractNote={
                  
               }, number={1}, journal={PEDIATRICS}, author={Evans, Reina and Widman, Laura and Stokes, McKenzie and Javidi, Hannah and Hope, Elan and Brasileiro, Julia}, year={2020}, month={Jul} }